Abstract: An environmentally friendly penetrant used in non-destructive testing of material includes a vegetable oil fatty acid ester. A first embodiment of the penetrant is a post-emulsifiable fluorescent penetrant, a second embodiment of the penetrant is a heatable fluorescent penetrant, a third embodiment of the penetrant is a water washable fluorescent penetrant, a fourth embodiment of the penetrant is a visible water washable penetrant, and a fifth embodiment is a visible solvent removable penetrant. The heatable fluorescent penetrant includes a phenolic antioxidant to provide stability to at least approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit. A method for using the heatable fluorescent penetrant includes heating the penetrant to lower penetrant viscosity and thus provide better penetration into flaws in the material.

Abstract: A test panel and process of preparing a test panel for evaluating the performance of inspection penetrants by inducing cracks into a brittle coating. The process includes drilling one or more holes from the back side of a test plate which has been plated on a plated side. The holes are drilled partway through the test plate and create cavities. A penetrating tool which has a point is inserted into a cavity and the point is pressed in a slow measured manner from the back side of the panel which has a brittle plated coating on the front side to be cracked. The result is a series of cracks formed in an area opposite the area of the cavity.

Abstract: A test panel and process of preparing a test panel for evaluating the performance of inspection penetrants by inducing cracks into a brittle coating. The process utilizes a penetrating tool which has a point which is pressed in a slow measured manner into the back side of the panel which has a brittle coating on the front side to be cracked. The position of the pointed tool is carefully measured in increments of 0.05″ or smaller. The tool is driven to a depth to obtain the desired crack size, depending on the brittle coating's characteristics.