Symposium on principles of penetrant methods

Abstract

In Paper 1 Mr. Carson discusses the advantages and disadvantages of penetrant methods of crack detection compared with magnetic methods for ferromagnetic material. He concludes that fluorescent methods are more satisfactory than penetrants employing a dye and he gives a summary of the views of a Panel of the British Welding Research Association. Mr. Cook poses eleven questions in Paper 2 as a framework for research towards ascertaining what the underlying physical principles are that make crack detection by penetrants successful. In Paper 3 Dr. Schnurmann discusses the three different types of fluorescent inks used according to their physical action, and follows this with a brief discussion of the dye penetrant method. He concludes that the selection of the most efficient penetrant method must be made on empirical grounds for any particular instance. These opening papers are followed by a report of the discussion on them.