What kind of surface preparation is recommended before the PT process?

The recommended surface preparation before the Liquid Penetrant Testing (PT) process is a clean and dry surface free from contaminants. Proper surface preparation is crucial in PT because it directly affects the effectiveness of the penetrant in detecting defects. Contaminants such as oils, dirt, moisture, and paints can interfere with the penetrant’s ability to enter and fill any cracks or voids that may be present in the material being tested.

A clean surface ensures that the penetrant can adequately wet the surface and penetrate into the defects. If contaminants are present, they may create barriers that prevent the penetrant from accessing the flaws, resulting in false negatives and a failure to detect actual defects. Thus, ensuring a clean and dry surface is a fundamental step in the PT process to achieve reliable results. This emphasizes the importance of meticulous surface preparation in non-destructive testing practices.