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PENETRANT TESTING OR PT

Penetrant Testing or PT

Surface control method, allowing the detection of discontinuities or cracks that only lead to the surface.

The part to be inspected is covered with a colored penetrant (red or fluorescent) with very low surface tension, which is introduced into the finest cavities and open discontinuities of the material. After rinsing, usually under clear water, a developer is applied by spraying over the entire controlled surface. As it dries, it will deposit a thin whitish layer which, due to the capillarity phenomenon, will cause the penetrant to rise out of the discontinuities and thus mark the defect with a red linear indication.

The method can be applied to many materials such as steels, aluminums, ceramics or composite materials.
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