Penetrant Testing

Waftford provides all the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code recognized six techniques of PT. They vary by type of penetrant and method of cleaning before applying a developer. The two penetrant types are either fluorescent or color contrast (dye) penetrant. They can then be used with any of the three methods of cleaning – water washable, post-emulsifying, and solvent removable. The most popular is dye pen.

The dye penetrant solvent removable method is most popular because it is low cost and very versatile. It typically comes in three aerosol cans – cleaner, penetrant, and developer. The aerosol cans are very versatile which allow them to be taken up ladders, inside boilers, down into pits, and into very tight places. Most nonporous materials (steel, stainless steel, cast iron, aluminum, brass, bronze, titanium, rubber, plastics, and glass) can be examined using PT.