WORLD CENTRE FOR MATERIALS JOINING TECHNOLOGY

Penetrant Testing
Coursework 1
Enter all answers on the answer sheet
1. The tendency of a liquid penetrant to enter a discontinuity is primarily due to:
a.
b.
c.
d.

Capillary forces
Specific gravity
Viscosity
Chemical inertness

2. The process by which a penetrant is drawn out of discontinuities by the developer is:
a.
b.
c.
d.

Capillary action
Suck back
Reverse capillary action
Gravitational attraction

3. A disadvantage of penetrant flaw detection is:

a.
b.
c.
d.

It can only detect surface breaking discontinuities

It cannot be used on fine cracks such as fatigue cracks
Parts cannot be re- tested
It cannot be used on non-ferrous materials

4. An advantage of penetrant flaw detection is:

a.
b.
c.
d.

It can be used on non-ferromagnetic materials

Fluorescent penetrant can be used for on-site testing of large parts
The temperature of the part need to be considered
Painted parts can be rapidly test

5. Which of the following is a type of penetrant?

a.
b.
c.
d.

Chemical etch penetrant

Non-aqueous penetrant
Post Emulsifiable penetrant
Non-ferrous penetrant

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6. A dual sensitivity penetrant is:
a.
b.

A penetrant which can be used with only visible light

A penetrant which can be used both abnormally low and abnormally high
temperatures
c.
A penetrant that is suitable for wide, shallow discontinuities and for the cracks
such as fatigue cracks
d.
A penetrant to which replenisher can be added to change its sensitivity
7. Which of the following is not a type of developer?
a.
b.
c.
d.

Dry developer
Non-aqueous wet developer
Aqueous liquid developer
Liquid developer

8. A dry developer is generally applied to:

a.
b.
c.
d.

Viscosity
Surface tension
Wetting ability
No one single property determines if a material will or will not be a good penetrant

9. Excess water- washable fluorescent penetrant can be removed by:

a.
b.
c.

Hand wiping with a cloth moistened with solvent

Applying a lipophilic emulsifier
Spraying water until all traces of penetrant have been removed from the
surface

d.
10.
a.
b.
c.
d.

Drying in an oven at a temperature not greater than 85 C

Excess water- washable fluorescent penetrant can be removed by:
Hand wiping with a cloth moistened with solvent
Applying a lipophilic emulsifier
Spraying water until all traces of penetrant have been removed from the surface
Drying in an oven at a temperature not greater than 85 C

11. When fluorescent penetrants are used:

a. The inspector should allow five minutes before inspection to allow his eyes to become
accustomed to the lighting conditions
b. The quality of white light in the inspection booth should be limited to, typically 10 lux
c. Removal of excess penetrant is monitored under UV-light
d. All the above

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12.

Which of the following is an advantage of the post-emulsifiable penetrant system

a.
b.
c.
d.

Excess penetrant is easier to remove from rough surfaces

Overall the process is cheaper
It is best for complex shape such as screw threads
It is highly sensitive on smooth surfaces

13. A disadvantage of dry powder developer is that:

a.

It is difficult to see whether the parts has been completely covered in

developer
b.
The part must be dried after application of the developer
c.
It can represent a potential safety hazard through inhalation
d.
It can only be used with colour contrast penetrants
14. A possible cause of non-relevant indications is:
a.
b.
c.
d.

Rivets
Contamination of dry powder developer with fluorescent penetrant
Failure to remove excess penetrant
Lint fibres on the test piece

15. Which of the following penetrant systems would be the most sensitive for the detection of
very fine defects:
a.
b.
c.
d.

Fluorescent water washable

Colour contrast water washable
Colour contrast solvent removable
Post emulsifiable fluorescent

16. Which of the following physical properties, more than any other, determines,
what makes a material at a good penetrant ?
a.
b.
c.
d.

Viscosity
Surface tension
Wetting ability
No one single property determines if a material will or will not be a good penetrant

17. When selecting a penetrant system which of the following factors would be considered:
a. Component surface finish
b. The sensitivity required
c. The compatibility of the penetrant with the material under inspection

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d. All of the above would be considered

18. Which of the statements concerning liquid penetrant testing is correct?

a. Fluorescent penetrant will produce a red against white discontinuity indicates
b. Non-fluorescent penetrants require the use of black lights
c. Yellow-green fluorescent indications glow in UV-A light for easy viewing and
interpretation
d. Non-fluorescent indications glow in the dark for easy viewing and interpretation
19. The most widely accepted method of washing excessive water-washable penetrant from
the surface of a test specimen is:
a. By means of a wet rag
b. By means of a hose and special nozzle
c. Washing the part directly under water running from a tap
d. Immersing the part in water
20. Development time depends upon the:
a. Type of penetrant used
b. Type of developer used
c. Temperature of the material being tested
d. All of the above
21. The functions of the emulsifier in the post-emulsifiable penetrant method is to:
a. Drive penetrant into deep, tight cracks
b. React with surface penetrant to make the penetrant water washable
c. Add fluorescent dye or pigment to the penetrant
d. Provide a coating to which dry developer can adhere
22. Hydrophilic and lipophilic removers differ in that:
a. Hydrophilic removers are fluorescent whereas lipophilic removers are always colour
contrast
b. With hydrophilic removers, the application of the remover can be preceded by an
optional water wash. This is not the case with lipophilic removers
c. Lipophilic removers require a contact time at least twice as long as hydrophilic
removers
d. Hydrophilic removers are oil based whereas lipophilic removers are water
based

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23. Capillary pressure would be greatest in which of the following:

a. A wide long crack
b. A long dirt filled crack
c. A fine clean crack
d. A wide shallow crack
24. Which of the following is not a basic inspection principle thats applied to all
penetrant methods?
a.
b.
c.
d.

The penetrant must enter the discontinuity in order to form an indication

Indications glow when illuminated with black lights
A longer penetration time is required for finer discontinuities
If the penetrant is washed out of the discontinuity, an indication will not formed

25. A good penetrant has:

a.
b.
c.
d.

Low volatility and high surface tension

Low volatility and low surface tension
High volatility and high surface tension
High volatility and low surface tension

26. Viscosity is a measure of:

a.
b.
c.
d.

How quickly the penetrant flows

How quickly the penetrant evaporates
The density of the penetrant compared to water
Wetting ability

27. Possible sources of non-relevant indications are:

a.
b.
c.
d.

Threads
Rivets
Splines
All of the above

28. An advantage of colour contrast penetrants over fluorescent penetrants is that:

a.
b.
c.
d.

They are more sensitive because the indications are easier to see
They do not require special lighting conditions
They are more suitable for smooth surfaces
They are less corrosive

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29. Post-emulsifiable penetrants have the following advantages:

a. Excess penetrant is easier to remove from rough surfaces
b. Less penetrant is used than with water washable penetrants, and the process is
therefore cheaper
c. They can detect wide, shallow cracks
d. Parts are less liable to be over washed than with water-washable penetrants
30. Disadvantages of dry powder developers are that:
a.
b.
c.
d.

It is difficult to see whether the part has been completely covered in developer
The part must be dried after application of the developer
They can only be used with colour contrast penetrant
They should only be used with fluorescent penetrant

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