Liquid or dye penetrant testing is a non destructive method for finding discontinuities that are

open to the surface of solid and essentially non-porous materials. Indications of flaws can be found
regardless of the size, configuration, internal structure, or chemical composition of work piece being
tested and regardless of flaw orientation. Liquid penetrant can seep into (and be drawn into) various
types of minute surface openings (reportedly, as fine as 4micro inch in width) by capillary action.
Because of this, the process is well suited for the detection of all types of surface cracks, laps,
porosity, shrinkage areas, lamination and similar discontinuities in casting, forgings, welds and other
product forms. Dye penetrant inspection is used extensively for the testing of wrought and cast
products of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, powder metallurgy parts, and ceramics and glass
objects.
In practice, the liquid penetrant inspection process is relatively simple. Equipment generally is
simpler and less costly than that for most other NDT methods .When used on ferromagnetic steels,
in some instances, the sensitivity of liquid penetrant test is better than that of magnetic particle
testing.

Limitations
The major limitation of liquid penetrant testing is that, it can detect only imperfections that are open
to the surface. Another factor that may inhibit the effectiveness of liquid penetrant testing is the
surface roughness of the object being tested .Rough or porous surfaces are likely to produce false
indication.
Liquid penetrant testing depends mainly on a liquid's effectively wetting the surface of a solid work
piece of specimen, flowing over the migrating into cavities that are open to the surface.Closely
related to wetting ability is the phenomenon of capillary rise or depression.

The liquid penetrant testing requires at least five steps:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Surface preparation.
Application of penetrant.
Removed of Excess penetrant.
Application of Developer.
Observation and Reporting.