Nondestructive Testing (NDT) Supplies and Accessories

NDT supplies and accessories are components, ancillary equipment, standards, and consumable materials used in non-destructive testing (NDT). Ancillary equipment includes magnetizers, field indicators, dosimeters, flaw counters, immersion tanks, and darkroom equipment. Standards provide flaw, conductivity, densitometer, hardness, radiographic film and thickness references. Consumables include cleaners, developers, penetrants, dyes, and powders. Specialized NDT supplies and accessories are used with fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI), dye penetrant testing, magnetic particle inspection, and radiographic or X-ray inspection. General NDT supplies and accessories include alloy identifiers, spot test kits, cables and adaptors, descalers and pickles, flaw markers, holders and clamps, illuminators and light meters, and magnifiers and mirrors. Commonly used items also include tanks and stations, powder dispensers, ultrasonic (UT) compounds, ultraviolet (UV) lamps, scanners and pipeline crawlers, and particle filtration and chemical recovery systems.

FPI and dye penetrant testing are NDT methods that detect discontinuities in the surface of components. Parts are sprayed with aerosols, immersed in liquids, or dusted with powders. Red dye penetrants are visible under normal light. FPI requires illumination from a UV light source. Both FPI and dye penetrant testing use a variety of NDT supplies and accessories. For example, before a penetrant is applied, cleaners are used to remove surface contaminants such as cutting oils and greases. After the penetrant is applied, removers are used to eliminate excess penetrant from the part’s surface. Developers improve flaw visibility by pulling penetrant from cracks to the surface. Contrast paints and aerosols are also used to help distinguish the penetrant from the part. Emulsifiers are liquid additives that enhance the suspension of penetrants. Sprayers are useful for spot-checking components in the field and testing large parts that cannot be immersed in tanks. Small, portable penetrant testing kits that contain consumables, sprayers and applicators are often available.

Magnetic particle inspection is an NDT method that magnetizes components and flushes them with an inspection medium consisting of a fluorescent magnetic powder and a carrier. A variety of NDT supplies and accessories are available. Magnetic particles are made of iron oxide and dyed gray, red, black, or yellow to provide contrast against the background of the test surface. Parts are magnetized with coil magnetizers, yoke magnetizers, conductors, contact pads, blocks, plates or clamps. With coil magnetizers, parts are passed through or laid on top of a magnet. With yoke magnetizers, an intense magnetic field is created between the legs of a horseshoe-shaped electromagnet. Portable or stationary power packs are used for AC or DC power supplies. Field indicators and magnetometers measure the strength of magnetic fields. Examples include flux indicator strips, magnetometers, magnetization detectors, and Gauss meters. Demagnetizers remove any residual magnetism from parts after testing.

Radiographic and X-ray inspection is an NDT method that transmits or reflects radiation in order to determine absorption levels. NDT supplies and accessories include imagers and cameras, photographic film and developers, darkroom and processing equipment, film viewers, and special X-ray markers for labeling radiographic images. Imaging plates capture image data in a phosphor layer coated on a plastic sheet. Fluorescent screens convert X-rays or other radiation into visible light using a phosphorescent coating on a glass plate or plastic film. Shielding, interlocks, and enclosures protect personnel and equipment from radiation during testing. Dosimeters are used to measure radiation. Penetrameters are used to measure the penetrating power or voltage of X-rays or gamma rays.

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