Leakage Field :

aLeakage fields are the basis for magnetic particle

examination. A leakage field are the flux lines in the air
surrounding a discontinuity in a magnetized part.
The leakage field which develop at and above the surface of
a magnetized material attracts and accumulates iron particles
which forms a visible indication on the surface.
A bar magnet has a pole at each end. They are, a North
pole and a south pole. Magnetic lines of force flow through
the bar from the south pole to the north pole. Because the
lines of force within the bar magnet run the length of the bar,
it is said to be longitudinally magnetized.
If the magnet is cracked at right angle to the length but not
broken completely in two, a north and a south pole form at
opposite edges of the crack and a leakage field emerge. This
leakage field attracts iron particles that outlines the crack.
Surface Discontinuity : When a part is magnetized such that
the direction of the magnetic lines of force is at right angles
or nearly right angles to the length of a surface breaking
discontinuity, the flux lines are bend into the air above the
crack. This bending is caused by the change from high
permeability of the magnetic material to the low permeability
of air in the gap of the crack. The leakage field spans the
narrow air gap throughout the length of the discontinuity.
When fine iron particles are applied to the surface, the
particles are attracted to the poles of this miniature leakage
field. The first layer of particles shorten and strengthen the
leakage field causing additional particles to be attracted.
These particles attract more particles until the entire leakage
field is filled with chains of tightly held magnetized particles.
A surface breaking discontinuity forms a sharply defined
indication.
Near surface Discontinuity : When the discontinuity is near
the surface, some of the bent lines of force complete their
path within the metal above the discontinuity. Others that
complete their bent path in the air form a leakage field that
is broader and weaker than the leakage field for a similar
surface breaking discontinuity. Thus, the attracted particles
which accumulate at the leakage field of a near surface
discontinuity are more loosely held. The indication looks wide
discontinuity, they follow the metal path along the
and fuzzy. For a deep discontinuity, all of the bent lines of
edges of that discontinuity, rather than span the long
force complete their path within the metal above the
direction of the air gap. The result is that no leakage
discontinuity, as a result no leakage field emerges from the
field is created, and in tern no magnetic indication is
part.
produced to reveal that discontinuity.
Orientation : The direction of magnetic flux must be at right
angles to the length of any discontinuity to produce the
strongest indication of that discontinuity.
When the lines of force are parallel to the length of a

Compiled by KALYAN PRASAD CHATTERJEE/ K. SHIVAKUMAR – INTERNATIONAL TRAINERS