Penetrant Testing Flashcards

Which penetrant testing method uses Method C classification?

Answer: Solvent-removable penetrant

Per ASTM E1417, Method C refers to solvent-removable penetrants where excess penetrant is removed using a solvent-dampened cloth.

Which discontinuity type is penetrant testing LEAST effective at detecting?

Answer: Very wide open discontinuities

Very wide open discontinuities may not retain enough penetrant through the cleaning step to produce a detectable indication.

What is the purpose of the pre-cleaning step before applying penetrant?

Answer: To remove contaminants that could block discontinuity openings or cause false indications

Pre-cleaning removes oils, paint, rust, and other contaminants that could seal discontinuity openings and prevent penetrant entry or cause false indications.

A technician is inspecting an austenitic stainless steel weld. Which penetrant specification controls sulfur and halogen content to prevent material damage?

Answer: AMS 2644

AMS 2644 specifies limits on sulfur and halogen content in penetrant materials used on nickel alloys and austenitic stainless steels to prevent stress corrosion cracking.

What type of crack is typically found in aluminum castings and is commonly detected by PT?

Answer: Hot tears

Hot tears form in castings during solidification when thermal stresses exceed the strength of the partially solidified metal and are readily detected by PT.

In visible dye penetrant testing, what color is the indication typically produced against the developer background?

Answer: Red or pink

Visible dye penetrants use red or pink dye that bleeds out of discontinuities to create red indications against the white developer background.

Which test panel is commonly used to verify penetrant system performance before inspection?

Answer: TAM panel (aluminum alloy cracked panel)

The TAM panel contains thermally cracked aluminum specimens of known discontinuity sizes and is used to verify penetrant system sensitivity and technique consistency.