NDT Material
Testing

So what is NDT using these materials?

Dye penetrant inspection (DPI), also called liquid penetrant inspection (LPI), is a widely applied and low-cost inspection method used to locate surface-breaking defects in all non-porous materials (metals, plastics, or ceramics). The process is used to detect casting, forging and welding defects, cracks, leaks in new products, and fatigue cracks on in-service components.

DPI is based upon capillary action, where a low surface tension fluid penetrates into clean and dry surface-breaking discontinuities. Penetrant may be applied to the test component by dipping, spraying, or brushing. After adequate penetration time has been allowed, the excess penetrant is removed and a developer is applied. The developer helps to draw penetrant out of the flaw where a visible indication becomes visible to the inspector. Inspection is performed under ultraviolet for fluorescent penetrant materials.

It is therefore clear that the integrity, quality and performance of the NDT materials used are paramount to the levels of quality that can be achieved when carrying out non-destructive testing.

See the Story of the Wheeltappers below

“Penecert” Testing Service from Magnaflux

We deliver the Penecert Testing Service on behalf of Magnaflux, a leading supplier of dye penetration inspection chemical products used for non-destructive testing throughout the world. 

To obtain the maximum benefit from any penetrant inspection system, it is essential to ascertain that the quality of the penetrant materials used in the system have not deteriorated during use. That is why so many penetrant testing specifications require the regular testing of materials for certification.

The Penecert Testing Service offered by Magnaflux is provided by Aerotech Laboratories Ltd as the approved testing laboratory. If you purchase your NDT consumables from Magnaflux and would like more information about the Penecert program please contact us or Magnaflux directly.

The story of the Wheeltappers and
the Ancient Art of Crack Detection

Wheeltappers were highly skilled railwayworkers commonly employed on British railways prior to the 1970’s working in goods yards with the hundreds of thousands of goods wagons upon which railways depended for the majority of their income.

The wheeltapper was employed to check that the wheels on the bogies were sound by using a long handled wheeltapping hammer. He would strike the wheels of the bogie and hear if it ‘rang true’ whereby a wheel with a crack in it would give off a dull sound.

Wheeltappers were vital to the smooth running of the railways as a cracked tyre would lead to delays and the loss of revenue. Equally, in this period, metallurgy was a more haphazard science and thus it was impossible to test steel tyres for cracks, thus the role of the wheeltapper was of crucial importance.

But what happens if the Wheeltappers’ hammer has got a crack in it ? ? !

Every wheel would not ring true; it would appear to be cracked and would need replacing.

So, in the modern version of this scenario…
We test the hammer ! !