Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection Services
At American Metal Testing, we offer NADCAP-accredited Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection services for non-porous industrial metal components. We serve a wide range of industries, including aerospace, transportation, and other sectors that require fully tested metal materials and components. With industry-leading quality-control standards and decades of expertise, you can trust AMT for your NDT service requirements.
What is Fluorescent Dye Penetrant Inspection?
Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection (FPI) is a non-destructive testing technique used to detect surface defects in metallic and non-metallic components. The FPI examination process reveals cracks, inclusions, porosity, and other surface flaws that cannot be detected with a visual inspection. At American Metal Testing, we offer industry-leading Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection services to ensure you have safe components that meet your specification requirements.
AMT's Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection Capabilities
We offer complete fluorescent penetrant inspection services from our fully equipped in-house facility. Our team provides accurate, repeatable results with fast turnaround to keep your production schedule moving. Our FPI capabilities include:
- In-house inspection facility: Controlled environment designed for precision fluorescent penetrant testing.
- NADCAP-accredited process: Accredited for non-destructive testing (NDT) to meet the strictest aerospace and industrial standards.
- Compliance with industry specifications: Meets requirements for ASTM, AMS, and MIL standards.
- Prompt turnaround times: Efficient scheduling and processing for quick results and minimal downtime.
- Part size capacity: Able to inspect components up to 4-5” in square/diameter, 3-4” thick, and up to 10 lbs.
The FPI Examination Process at AMT
The Fluorescent Liquid Penetrant Inspection process follows five primary steps: pre-cleaning, application of penetrant, excess penetrant removal, inspection, and post-cleaning:
- Pre-Cleaning: Removes dirt, oil, paint, and other contaminants that could block penetrant entry.
- Penetrant Application: Applies a high-sensitivity fluorescent penetrant that can dwell and fill surface discontinuities.
- Excess Removal: Carefully removes residual penetrant using water, solvent, or emulsifier methods depending on the application.
- Inspection: Uses ultraviolet (UV-A) light to reveal and evaluate discontinuities against a contrasting developer background.
- Post-Cleaning: Cleans components to remove inspection materials and prepare them for any subsequent processing.
Advantages of Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection Testing Services
- Non-Destructive: FPI allows for repeated inspections over the lifespan of a component since it does not damage the test object.
- High Sensitivity: FPI can detect very small surface discontinuities, including cracks, porosity, inclusions, metal burrs, shrinkage, and more.
- Versatility: Can be used on a wide range of materials, including metals, ceramics, and plastics, provided they are non-porous.
- Cost-Effective: Compared to some other nondestructive testing methods, FPI is relatively inexpensive in terms of both equipment and operational costs.
- Efficient: FPI testing is relatively fast with minimal downtime.
- Visual Results: The fluorescent dyes used in FPI are highly visible under ultraviolet (UV) light, making defects easy to see and interpret.
- Portable Equipment: The equipment required for FPI can be made portable for on-site inspections.
- Documentation: Photographs can document the results of FPI and serve as a clear record for future reference.
What Are Industrial Applications for Dye Penetrant Inspection Services?
We provide metal testing services for customers in some of the world’s most demanding industries, including military & defense, transportation, wind energy, aerospace, and more. As a NADCAP-accredited non-destructive testing laboratory, we are qualified to provide testing services to aerospace manufacturers such as Boeing, Parker Aerospace, UTC Aerospace Systems, and others. Common applications for FPI examination services include:
- Aerospace: Small Turbine blades, housings, landing gear components, and structural components
- Military & Defense: High-performance hardware and military equipment
- Automotive/Transportation: Engine parts, axle components, and other parts
- Power Generation & Wind Energy: Small turbine shafts and rotor parts
- Oil & Gas: Drilling tools, pressure vessels, and valves
- Industrial Manufacturing: Welded, cast, or machined components
AMT is Your Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection Service Provider
Questions about our Fluorescent Liquid Penetrant Inspection services? Contact our staff at American Metal Testing today, or visit our FPI 101 resource page to learn more. Need other NDT services? In addition to FPI testing, we offer Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI) and Radiographic Inspection (RI) services for metal components. Choose American Metal Testing for all your industrial component testing services
