Magnetic Particle Inspection

Part 1
 Magnetism
• Materials will strongly attract pieces of
iron to themselves
• Phenomenon discovered in the ancient
Greek city of Magnesia
• Magnets utilised in navigation
• Oersted discovered the link between
electricity and magnetism
• Faraday revealed that electrical and
magnetic energy could be interchanged
 Magnetic Particle Inspection
• Test method for the detection of surface
and sub-surface indications in
ferromagnetic materials
• Magnetic field induced in component
• Defects disrupt the magnetic flux
• Defects revealed by applying
ferromagnetic particles
 Magnets

N S

Lines of force / Lines of flux

 Lines of force
• By convention they flow from North to
South outside and South to North inside
• Form closed loops
• Never cross
• Field is strongest where most numerous
• Follow path of least resistance
 Definitions
• Magnetic field Region in which
magnetic forces exist

• Flux Total number of lines existing

in a magnetic circuit

• Flux Density Magnetic flux per unit

area (measured in Teslas)
 Other Forms of Magnet
Horseshoe Circular Magnet
Magnet

N S
 Electromagnetism
• A current flows through a conductor and
sets up a magnetic field around it
• Field is at 90o to the direction of the
electrical current
Direction
of current
flow

Direction of magnetic field

 Coil Magnetisation

• Changes circular filed into longitudinal

• Increases the strength of the field
 Coil Magnetisation

• Changes circular filed into longitudinal

• Increases the strength of the field
 Principle of MPI : Flux Leakage
No Defect Defect

N S N S

Lines of flux follow the path of least resistance

 Visibility of Flux Leakage
• Depth of defect
• Orientation of defect shape of defect
• Size of defect
• Permeability of material
 Depth below surface

N S N S
 Defect Orientation

Defect at 90 degrees to flux : maximum

indication
 Defect Orientation

>45 Degrees to Flux: Acceptable

indication
 Defect Orientation

<45 Degrees to Flux : Unacceptable

indication
 Defect Orientation
Test 1 Test 2

Defects

FIELD Defects Defects

Defects

MPI requires 2 tests at 90o to one another

 NB All surface defects form indications

But not all indications are caused by defects

Non-relevant indications Spurious indications

Due to flux leakage but Not due to flux
arising from design leakage
features
• Lint
• Changes in section
• Scale
• Changes in
permeability • Dirt
• Grain boundaries • Hairs
• Forging flow lines • Magnetic writing
 Permeability of Material
• Paramagnetic: Weakly attracted by magnets
• Examples Aluminium,Tungsten

• Diamagnetic: Slightly repelled by magnets

• Examples Gold,Copper,Water

• Ferromagnetic: Strongly attracted

• Examples Iron,Cobalt,Nickel
 Permeability
• The ease with which a material can be
magnetised
• Opposite of reluctance (difficulty with
which a material can be magnetised)
• Represented by the symbol μ
• μ=B/H
• Measured in Henries / metre
 Permeability
• Paramagnetics Slightly > 1
• Diamagnetics Slightly < 1
• Ferromagnetics 240 +