Penetrant testing PT
A surface NDT method based on capillary action — effective detection of discontinuities in welds, forgings, castings and in ceramic and plastic components.
A non-destructive method using capillary action, in which penetrant enters the surfaces of welded joints, forgings and castings to reveal material discontinuities open to the surface. This surface method detects discontinuities in welded joints made of carbon and stainless steel, aluminium and copper, as well as in forgings, castings, ceramic and plastic components.
Our equipment at work
Penetrant testing carried out by experienced inspectors
X-TEST provides comprehensive PT penetrant testing for industry. We have many years of experience in detecting surface discontinuities with colour-contrast and fluorescent penetrants. Our inspections follow the applicable Polish and European standards.
We hold a complete range of penetrant systems — colour-contrast ones for use in daylight and fluorescent ones requiring a UV lamp — so the technique can be matched to the job requirements and the conditions on site.
Get in touchPT techniques we offer
We use the full range of penetrant techniques — from classic colour-contrast systems to fluorescent testing under UV light and leak checking.
A surface NDT method
PT penetrant testing is a non-destructive method based on capillary action. It detects discontinuities open to the surface in any non-porous material — steel, aluminium, copper, ceramics or plastics.
How it works
The test consists of applying penetrant to a cleaned surface, allowing the dwell time, removing the excess, applying developer and evaluating the indications. Capillary action draws the penetrant into discontinuities — after development they appear as coloured or fluorescent traces.
Advantages of the method
- Detects discontinuities open to the surface whatever their orientation
- Applicable to all non-porous materials
- Covers welded joints, forgings, castings, ceramics and plastics
- Colour-contrast — no special lighting needed; fluorescent — higher detectability
Penetrant testing techniques we use
Colour-contrast systems
Testing in daylight / white light
Testing with colour-contrast (red) penetrants in ordinary daylight or artificial white light. Indications appear as red traces against the white developer background — results are simple to interpret.
Scope of testing:
- Welded joints in carbon and stainless steel to PN-EN ISO 3452-1÷3
- Welded joints — acceptance to PN-EN ISO 23277
- Forgings to PN-EN 10228-2
- Castings to PN-EN 1371-1
- Testing to X-TEST in-house procedures
Equipment:
- Colour-contrast (red) penetrant kits — aerosol systems
- Dry and wet developers
- Lux meter for measuring illuminance (min. 500 lx)
Fluorescent systems
Testing under UV-A light
Testing under UV light (a 365 nm UV-A lamp) — fluorescent penetrants detect discontinuities far more reliably than the colour-contrast method. Indications glow bright green-yellow against a dark background.
Advantages of PT-F:
High detection sensitivity, down to very fine discontinuities. Suitable for components of complex geometry. Requires a darkroom or a darkened inspection station. Particularly recommended for aerospace and precision components.
Scope of testing:
- Welded joints in stainless steel, aluminium and copper
- Forgings and castings with demanding quality requirements
- Ceramic and plastic components
- Testing to X-TEST procedures
Leak testing
Leak checking of joints
Leak checking with a colour-contrast penetrant — verifying that welded joints in tanks, ducts and pipelines are tight, where there is access from both the cap and the root side. Penetrant is applied on one side; where there is a leak, indications appear on the other.
Scope of testing:
- Pressure vessels and pipelines — leak checking of welds
- Flanges and gasketed joints
- Thin-walled components
- Testing to X-TEST in-house procedures
Equipment:
- Colour-contrast and fluorescent penetrant kits
- UV-A lamp, 365 nm (for the fluorescent method)
- UV meter for verifying irradiance (min. 10 W/m²)
Equipment and consumables we use
We have a complete set of penetrant materials and equipment for PT testing in the workshop and in the field.
Penetrant materials
- Colour-contrast (red) penetrants — aerosol spray systems
- Fluorescent penetrants — sensitivity levels 2 and 3
- Dry and wet developers (water- and solvent-based)
- Cleaners and removers matched to the penetrant system
- PSM-5 comparison blocks for verifying the PT system
Measuring equipment
- Certified 365 nm UV-A lamp for fluorescent testing
- UV-A radiometer — verification of min. 10 W/m²
- Lux meter — white-light measurement (min. 500 lx)
- Pyrometer — non-contact surface temperature measurement
- Photographic documentation of indications
- PN-EN ISO 3452-1÷3
- PN-EN ISO 23277 — welded joint evaluation
- PN-EN 10228-2 — forgings
- PN-EN 1371-1 — castings
- Custom procedures per client requirements
Applications
- Welded joints of pipes, sheets, structures
- Forgings
- Castings
- Ceramic components
- Plastic components
Need penetrant testing?
Write to us — we will agree the scope of inspection for your product.
Contact us