Penetrant testing (PT)

Penetrant testing is a method of surface inspection which can be performed on alloy and non-alloy steels, steel castings, cast iron, aluminium, copper, nickel, titanium, plastics and other materials. Penetrant testing takes advantage of the phenomenon of capillarity, which involves the penetration of a liquid (penetrant) with a low surface tension into narrow spaces (discontinuities), and its pulling using an absorbent fluid (developing fluid) The penetrant testing method is used to detect such discontinuities as porosity, cracks, cold shutting, etc. Additionally, it can be used for tightness testing.