NDT Procedure for Dye penetrant - ASNT Recommended Practice SNT-TC-1A;

Inspection : Personnel Qualification and Certification

in Non-destructive Testing
1 Scope
This procedure details the requirements for 34 Qualification of testing personnel
visible liquid penetrant examination / testing The personnel shall be qualified and certified
(PT) of ferrous and non-ferrous components. according to ISO 9712, SNT-TC-1A or
equivalent nation- al standard (e.g. CAN/CGSB
2 Purpose 48.9712). An operator with PT-level 1 can
2.1 The requirements are intended to detect perform an examination only under the
discontinuities that are open to test-surface supervision of personnel qualified and
and free from contaminants by interpreting certified PT-level 2 or higher.
the surface indications and evaluating them in
accordance with the applicable referenced Interpretation and evaluation of results shall
codes, standards or specifications by certified only be carried out by personnel qualified and
NDT personnel qualified in PT to Level II. certified PT- level 2 or higher, who is
2.2 Customer’s approved specific supervising the examination of PT-level 1 and
Inspection/Evaluation manuals have also to be evaluates the results. Both have to sign the
followed strictly, if available and applicable. records.
2.3 Any conflicts between any points of this
procedure and the referenced documents or All qualifications and certification must
job specifications of customer shall be comply, in full, with at least one of the
resolved (if given in writing) by the appointed standards referenced in chapter 2 3 of this
ASNT NDT Level III or the Divisional Manager document and, where applicable, should be in
(NDT) or his authorized representative. full compliance with the Project Quality Plan
(QCP).

23 Reference documents 45 Consumables

All standards, codes and norms refer to the All penetrant materials to be used during
last published edition and addenda, which has testing shall be analysedanalyzed and certified
to be adopted if customer is not requiring a for content of halogen Halogen (including
former revision. chlorine + fluorine) and sulphur Sulphur
- EN ISO 3452-1: Non-destructive Testing - according to one of the standards referenced
Penetrant Testing - Part 1: General in chapter 23. All consumables used for any
Principles (former EN 571-1) one test shall be from the same manufacturer
- EN ISO 9712: Non-destructive and the same system.
Testing - Qualification and Certification of 5.1 For PT examination the consumables will
NDT Personnel (former EN 473) be:
- ISO 3059: Non-destructive Testing - 5.1.1 Magnaflux Spotcheck Penetrant SKL-
Penetrant Testing and Magnetic Particle SP2, or equivalent
Testing - Viewing Conditions 5.1.2 Magnaflux Spotcheck Cleaner/Remover
- ISO 9712: Non-destructive Testing – SKC-S, or equiva7.2.3
Qualification and certification of NDT 5.1.3 Magnaflux Spotcheck Developer SKD-S2,
Personnel or equivalent
- ASTM E1417: Standard Practice for Liquid
Penetrant Testing 56 Test procedure
- ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code
Section V Article 6 -: Liquid Penetrant 56.1 Timing of examination
Examination Testing is carried out in the manner defined in
the project Quality Control Plan (QCP), both in
chronological order and material condition.
56.2 Extent of examination or detergents, and properly protected from
The extent or scope of the examination is as contamination, need not be re-cleaned with
defined in the project Quality Control Plan penetrant cleaner (remover) prior to
(QCP). Where welds, or specific areas are application of the penetrant.
being examined, then the examination will
include a minimum of 25 mm (1 inch) outside 56.5 Penetrant application
the area being tested and in the case of welds The penetrant will be applied by dipping,
will include the entire "Heat Affected Zone spraying (atomizer, spray gun) or by brushing.
(HAZ)". When spray guns are used, filters are provided
at the air inlet to preclude the entry of dirt,
56.3 Surface preparation water and oil.
Satisfactory results are generally achieved on The temperature of the test surface shall be
surfaces in the as-welded, as-rolled, as-cast between 10°C and 52°C. Local heating or
and as- forged condition. cooling is will be used to reach the correct
The surface condition shall be adequate to surface temperature.
allow accurate interpretation of indications
commensurate with the acceptance criteria The penetration time will be as specified by
specified. the penetrant manufacturer, but at least 15
minutes with a maximum of 60 minutes. For
Note: Shot blasting is not recommended prior austenitic stainless steel, longer penetration
to liquid penetrant testing. However, if time (not less than 30 minutes and even up to
required, it should be as light as possible, in 2 hours) may be applicabelapplicable.
order to avoid closing up or sealing possible
discontinuities. During the penetration time the surface to be
examined shall not be allowed to dry. If the
56.4 Pre cleaning penetrant has dried during the penetration
Prior to the application of the penetrant, dust time, the surface is cleaned and the penetrant
and other fine matter or other contaminants is reapplied for the full penetration time.
are removed from the surface.
56.6 Excess penetrant removal
56.4.1 Mechanical cleaning After the penetration time specified has
Surface preparation may include grinding or elapsed, any excess penetrant is removed, ;
machining when surfaces are covered in some special care is taken to minimize removal of
parts with slag, scale, weld spatter, etc. penetrant from surface discontinuities.
For stainless steel grades of materials only Remaining traces of penetrant are removed by
stainless steelaustenitic wire brushes shall be lightly wiping the surface with clean lint-free
used, cutting tools (grinding stones rotary cloth or absorbent paper.
burrs etc) shall be free from contaminants.
56.6.1 Water washable penetrant
56.4.2 Chemical cleaning The penetrant is removed using fresh, clean
The surface to be examined and all adjacent water by spraying or by wiping with a damp
areas within at least 25 mm (1 inch) are cloth. When penetrant removal is achieved by
thoroughly degreased using a suitable solvent. spraying water, the pressure of the water
Drying of the pre-cleaned surfaces is source is reduced to a maximum of 3.5 barg.
accomplished by normal evaporation, forced The maximum temperature for spray water is
warm air or by heated radiators. A minimum 45°C.
drying period of 5 minutes shall elapse before
application of the penetrant. 56.6.2 Solvent removable penetrant
To minimize removal of excess penetrant from
Unless otherwise recommended by the surface discontinuities the cleaning agent is
manufacturer, welded components or parts applied using clean absorbent paper or a lint-
cleaned by vapor degreasing, organic solvents free cloth.
 For colour contrast penetrant, the test surface
Note: Flushing the surface with solvent is be inspected under daylight or artificial light
following the application of the penetrant and with a light intensity of at least 1000 lux on
prior to developing is prohibited. the surface of the tested part.
The light intensity in the examination area,
56.7 Surface drying where usually PT-Examinations take place,
Except when using an aqueous wet developer, should be verified at least once a year with
the area to be examined will be dried prior to calibrated light meters, documented and the
applying the developer. record maintained on file.
When using water for penetrant removal,
drying is accomplished using either: 78 Inspection and evaluation of indications
- a A clean lint-free cloth or absorbent The test surface is examined during the
paper application of the developer. Final
- hot Hot air circulation, provided the interpretation of the indications (bleed-out)
surface temperature Temperature is not will be made not earlier than 10 minutes and
raised above 52 °C not later than 30 minutes after application of
the developer.
When using a solvent for penetrant removal, Areas of pigmentation which could mask
drying is accomplished by either: discontinuities are cleaned and re-examined.
- normal Normal evaporation Where there is doubt as to the relevance of an
- using Using a clean lint-free cloth or indication, the surface in that area is cleaned
absorbent paper and re-examined.
- warm Warm air circulation, provided the Alternatively other nondestructive testing
surface temperature is not raised above methods can be applied, to determine if an
52 °C. indication is due to a defect. Such additional
tests are reported in manufacturing data
56.8 Application of developer book.
Wet developer is used. The developer is
applied as soon as possible after penetrant 89 Post examination cleaning
removal and drying. The maximum time After the completion of assessment all traces
interval between surface drying and applying of penetrant and developer are removed using
the developer is 10 minutes. solvent or water, as appropriate.
The developer is applied by spraying by means For austenitic stainless steels, water is used
of an atomizer or a spray gun or an aerosol with a certified chloride content of less than
can to form a uniform thin coating. Prior to 50 ppm.
applying suspension type wet developer to the
surface, the developer suspension is agitated 910 Reporting
or shaken to ensure adequate dispersion prior For each examination and for each item tested
to spraying. report is prepared. This report includes the
following information:
If a solvent suspension (atomizer) is used, - Identification of the object tested
surfaces shall be dried by normal evaporation. - Production stage respectively status of
If a water suspension is used, circulating warm component at time of inspection (before or
air may reduce the drying time, provided the after the heat treatment)
temperature of the surface is not raised above - Surface condition, material and thickness
52°C. - Test procedure (identification and
revision)
- Extent of test
67 Viewing conditions - Test consumables used including
The viewing conditions shall be such that glare manufacturer
and reflections are avoided. - Light intensity
- Method used
- Acceptance criteria
- Results (of the recording indications:
type, position, length or diameter,
distribution, eventually with drawing)
- Date of examination
- Operators' name, qualification (Level) and
signature

Components shall be clearly identified as

being either acceptable or rejected. Non-
conforming areas on components shall be
marked on the components themselves, or
where this is not possible on an NDE defect
map.