Flaw Finder Inspection Penetrants

Inspection penetrants are a nondestructive tool used to find defects which you might not otherwise notice. When a destructive test is performed, you are limited to the examination of a small percentage of parts (which are destroyed by the test). With non-destructive testing, you have the advantage of being able to examine, at a very low cost per part, 100% of the parts put into service.

Penetrants are used world wide by quality control, welding, N.D.T. and maintenance personnel. Almost all industries which work with metal rely partially or exclusively on inspection penetrants. Industries which use inspection penetrants widely include: aircraft manufacturers, welders, automobile manufacturers, the military (Air Force, Army, and Navy), engine manufacturers and rebuilders, nuclear power stations, ships, trains, primary metal producers, metal fabricators, machine tool manufacturers/users, electric utilities, mining, pulp & paper, refineries, petrochemical plants, subway, bus, and train maintenance.

Penetrants are one of the most widely used inspection methods in modern industry. Penetrants provide a non-destructive means of locating and evaluating flaws during a product’s fabrication, installation, or service life. Inspection penetrants are used for leak testing. Penetrants are an important part of manufacturing quality control, failure analysis, preventive maintenance and evaluation of repair adequacy. Penetrants are used to find cracks which occur in processes such as casting, welding, forging, heat treating, grinding, stamping, extruding, or machining. Routine use will detect fatigue cracks and deterioration resulting from operating stress, vibration, or corrosion long before breakdown occurs.  See How to Use Inspection Penetrants

• Dependability: Consistent results from batch to batch
• Approved and qualified to latest revision of MIL-I-25135 and the Qualified Products List Performance Specification SAE-AMS2644
• Penetrants meet major corporation specifications
• Variety: many penetrants & systems to choose from
• Available in a wide variety of containers
• Developers produce strong, sharply defined indications
• Developers are easy to apply, easy to remove & do not contain toxic materials
• Low toxicity to protect personnel
• Available in all sensitivity levels
• Very short penetration time required
• Guaranteed stable for five years in unopened drums
• Excellent heat and UV stability
• High degree of wettability, so will find flaws on all surfaces
• Low viscosity allows better coverages & minimum drag out
• Easy to remove
• Low volatility, so safer to use & inoffensive odor

Inspection penetrants are used effectively in the examination of any non-porous solid. All metals can be tested in this way. Metals commonly tested using inspection penetrants include aluminum, magnesium, steel, copper, stainless steel, brass, bronze and titanium. Ceramics, carbides, molded rubber, plastics, powdered metal products and glass are also widely tested using inspection penetrants. Penetrants cannot be used to test materials for discontinuities that are not open to the surface or have an extremely porous surface.

Flaw Finder® inspection penetrants have been supplied to the government and industry for over 15 years. We are experienced, willing and interested in your problems.

Customer service is very important to us. Our toll free number is 1-800-288-3647. We know that you have to work within budget constraints and that your time is valuable. We will help you find the penetrant system that will work the most effectively for you. We will ship using any method you specify. Almost all of our penetrants are available immediately from stock. Call us for detailed data sheets on our formulas and for material safety data sheets.

The American Gas & Chemical Flaw Finder inspection penetrant system is subject to rigorous quality control standards. Flaw Finder penetrant systems are tested under stringent conditions and are, of course, on the military Qualified Product List (Q.P.L.). Our aerosols have excellent spray patterns and are good to the last drop. Our prices are just about the lowest on the market. Our penetrants were developed with value in mind.

• Forming Tears, Cracks, Laminations, Seams
• Forging Cracks, Tears, Laps, Bursts, Seams, Flakes, Laminations
• Casting flaws porosity, Shrinkage cracks, Coldshuts, Blow holes, Stress induced cracks, Handling cracks
• Machining & grinding tears, Thermal cracks
• Maintenance inspection stress corrosion, Fatigue, Erosion
• Welding & Brazing, Lack of fusion, Surface porosity, Slag inclusions, Stress cracks
• Other fatigue cracks, Heat treating cracks