This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: E1209 − 18

Standard Practice for

Fluorescent Liquid Penetrant Testing Using the Water-
Washable Process1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1209; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope* 1.5 All areas of this document may be open to agreement

1.1 This practice covers procedures for water-washable 2 between the cognizant engineering organization and the
fluorescent penetrant testing of materials. It is a nondestructive supplier, or specific direction from the cognizant engineering
testing method for detecting discontinuities that are open to the organization (CEO).
surface such as cracks, seams, laps, cold shuts, laminations, 1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
isolated porosity, through leaks, or lack of porosity and is safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
applicable to in-process, final, and maintenance examination. It responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
can be effectively used in the examination of nonporous, priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
metallic materials, both ferrous and nonferrous, and of nonme- mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
tallic materials such as glazed or fully densified ceramics and 1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
certain nonporous plastics and glass. dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
1.2 This practice also provides a reference:
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
1.2.1 By which a fluorescent penetrant testing method using
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
the water-washable process recommended or required by
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
individual organizations can be reviewed to ascertain its
applicability and completeness. 2. Referenced Documents
1.2.2 For use in the preparation of process specifications
dealing with the water-washable fluorescent penetrant exami- 2.1 ASTM Standards:3
nation of materials and parts. Agreement by the purchaser and D129 Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum Products (Gen-
the manufacturer regarding specific techniques is strongly eral High Pressure Decomposition Device Method)
recommended. D516 Test Method for Sulfate Ion in Water
1.2.3 For use in the organization of the facilities and D808 Test Method for Chlorine in New and Used Petroleum
personnel concerned with the liquid penetrant testing. Products (High Pressure Decomposition Device Method)
D1552 Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum Products by
1.3 This practice does not indicate or suggest standards for High Temperature Combustion and Infrared (IR) Detec-
evaluation of the indications obtained. It should be pointed out, tion or Thermal Conductivity Detection (TCD)
however, that indications must be interpreted or classified and E165/E165M Practice for Liquid Penetrant Examination for
then evaluated. For this purpose there must be a separate code General Industry
or specification or a specific agreement to define the type, size, E433 Reference Photographs for Liquid Penetrant Inspec-
location, and direction of indications considered acceptable, tion
and those considered unacceptable. E543 Specification for Agencies Performing Nondestructive
--`,,,,````,``,,,`,,`,,`-`-``,```,,,`---

1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded Testing

as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical E1219 Practice for Fluorescent Liquid Penetrant Testing
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only Using the Solvent-Removable Process
and are not considered standard. E1316 Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations
E2297 Guide for Use of UV-A and Visible Light Sources and
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E07 on Nonde- Meters used in the Liquid Penetrant and Magnetic Particle
structive Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.03 on Liquid Methods
Penetrant and Magnetic Particle Methods.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2018. Published December 2018. Originally
3
approved in 1987. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as E1209-10. DOI: For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
10.1520/E1209-18. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
2
For ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code applications see related Test Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Method SE-1209 in Section II of that Code. the ASTM website.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

Copyright ASTM International

Provided by IHS Markit under license with ASTM
1Order Number: 02223177
Sold to:AEROLINEAS ARGENTINAS S.A. [700168] - ANGEL.LUQUET@AEROLINEAS.COM.AR,
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Not for Resale,2018-12-17 17:33:41 UTC
 E1209 − 18
E3022 Practice for Measurement of Emission Characteris- procedure has been qualified in accordance with 9.2, because
tics and Requirements for LED UV-A Lamps Used in visible dyes may cause deterioration or quenching of fluores-
Fluorescent Penetrant and Magnetic Particle Testing cent dyes.)
2.2 ASNT Documents:4 NOTE 2—The developer may be omitted by agreement between
Recommended Practice SNT-TC-1A Personnel Qualifica- purchaser and supplier.
tion and Certification in Nondestructive Testing 4.2 The selection of particular water-washable penetrant
ANSI/ASNT-CP-189 Qualification and Certification of NDT process parameters depends upon the nature of the application,
Personnel condition under which the examination is to be performed,
2.3 ISO Standard:5 availability of processing equipment, and type of materials to
ISO 9712 Non-destructive Testing – Qualification and Cer- perform the examination. (Warning—A controlled method for
tification of NDT Personnel applying water and disposing of the water is essential.)
2.4 AMS Standard:6 4.3 Processing parameters, such as precleaning, penetration
AMS 2644 Inspection Material, Penetrant time, and wash times, are determined by the specific materials
2.5 AIA Standard:7 used, the nature of the part under examination (that is, size,
NAS 410 Certification and Qualification of Nondestructive shape, surface condition, alloy), and type of discontinuities
Test Personnel expected.
2.6 Department of Defense (DoD) Contracts—Unless oth- 5. Significance and Use
erwise specified, the issue of the documents that are DoD
adopted are those listed in the issue of the DoDISS (Depart- 5.1 Liquid penetrant testing methods indicate the presence,
ment of Defense Index of Specifications and Standards) cited location, and, to a limited extent, the nature and magnitude of
in the solicitation. the detected discontinuities. This method is normally used for
production inspection of large volumes of parts or structures,
where emphasis is on productivity. The method enjoys a wide
2.7 Order of Precedence—In the event of conflict between
latitude in applicability when extensive and controlled condi-
the text of this practice and the references cited herein, the text
tions are available. Multiple levels of sensitivity can be
of this practice takes precedence.
achieved by proper selection of materials and variations in
process.
3. Terminology 6. Reagents and Materials
3.1 Definitions—definitions relating to liquid penetrant 6.1 Liquid Fluorescent Penetrant Testing Materials
testing, which appear in Terminology E1316, shall apply to the (see Note 3) for use in the water-washable process consist of a
terms used in this practice. family of fluorescent water-washable penetrants and appropri-
NOTE 1—Throughout this practice, the term blacklight has been ate developers and are classified as Type I Fluorescent, Method
changed to UV-A to conform with the latest terminology in Terminology A—Water-Washable. Penetrants shall conform to AMS 2644
unless approved by the contract or Level III. Intermixing of
--`,,,,````,``,,,`,,`,,`-`-``,```,,,`---

E1316. Blacklight can mean a broad range of ultraviolet radiation;

fluorescent penetrant testing only uses the UV-A range. materials from various manufacturers is not recommended.
4. Summary of Practice NOTE 3—Refer to 8.1 for special requirements for sulfur, halogen, and
alkali metal content. (Warning—While approved penetrant materials will
4.1 A liquid penetrant is applied evenly over the surface not adversely affect common metallic materials, some plastics or rubbers
being examined and allowed to enter open discontinuities. may be swollen or stained by certain penetrants.)
After a suitable dwell time, the excess surface penetrant is 6.2 Water-Washable Penetrants are designed to be directly
removed with water and the surface is dried prior to the water-washable from the surface of the test part after a suitable
application of a dry or nonaqueous developer. A developer is penetrant dwell time. Because the emulsifier is “built-in” to the
then applied, drawing the entrapped penetrant out of the water-washable penetrant, it is extremely important to exercise
discontinuity and staining the developer. If an aqueous devel- proper process control in removal of excess surface penetrant
oper is to be employed, the developer is applied prior to the to assure against overwashing. Water-washable penetrants can
drying step. The test surface is then examined visually under be washed out of discontinuities if the rinsing step is too long
UV-A radiation in a darkened area to determine the presence or or too vigorous. Some penetrants are less resistant to over-
absence of indications. (Warning—Fluorescent penetrant test- washing than others.
ing shall not follow a visible penetrant testing unless the 6.3 Developers—Development of penetrant indications is
the process of bringing the penetrant out of open discontinui-
4
ties through blotting action of the applied developer, thus
Available from The American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), P.O.
Box 28518, 1711 Arlingate Lane, Columbus, OH 43228-0518. increasing the visibility of the penetrant indications. Several
5
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., types of developers are suitable for use with the fluorescent
4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
6
penetrant water-washable process. (Warning—Aqueous de-
Available from SAE International (SAE), 400 Commonwealth Dr., Warrendale,
PA 15096, http://www.sae.org.
velopers may cause stripping of indications if not properly
7
Available from Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), 1000 Wilson Blvd., applied and controlled. The procedure shall be qualified in
Suite 1700, Arlington, VA 22209, http://www.aia-aerospace.org. accordance with 9.2.)

Copyright ASTM International

Provided by IHS Markit under license with ASTM
2Order Number: 02223177
Sold to:AEROLINEAS ARGENTINAS S.A. [700168] - ANGEL.LUQUET@AEROLINEAS.COM.AR,
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Not for Resale,2018-12-17 17:33:41 UTC
 E1209 − 18
6.3.1 Dry Powder Developers are used as supplied (that is, 7.1.1 Temperature Limits—The temperature of the penetrant
free-flowing, noncaking powder) in accordance with 7.1.7.1(a). materials and the surface of the part to be processed should be
Care should be taken not to contaminate the developer with between 40° and 125°F (4° and 52°C). Where it is not practical
fluorescent penetrant, as the specks can appear as indications. to comply with these temperature limitations, qualify the
6.3.2 Aqueous Developers are normally supplied as dry procedure at the temperature of intended use as described in
powder particles to be either suspended or dissolved (soluble) 9.2.
in water. The concentration, use, and maintenance shall be in 7.1.2 Surface Conditioning Prior to Penetrant Inspection—
accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations (see Satisfactory results can usually be obtained on surfaces in the
7.1.7.1(b)). as-welded, as-rolled, as-cast, or as-forged conditions or for
6.3.3 Nonaqueous, Wet Developers are supplied as suspen- ceramics in the densified condition. The more sensitive pen-
sions of developer particles in nonaqueous, solvent carriers etrants are generally less easily rinsed away and are therefore
ready for use as supplied. Nonaqueous, wet developers form a less suitable for rougher surfaces. When only loose surface
coating on the surface of the part when dried, which serves as residuals are present, these may be removed by wiping the
the developing medium for fluorescent penetrants (see surface with clean lint-free cloths. However, precleaning of
7.1.7.1(c)). (Warning—This type of developer is intended for metals to remove processing residuals such as oil, graphite,
application by spray only.) scale, insulating materials, coatings, and so forth, should be
6.3.4 Liquid Film Developers are solutions or colloidal done using cleaning solvents, vapor degreasing, or chemical
suspensions of resins/polymer in a suitable carrier. These removing processes. Surface conditioning by grinding,
developers will form a transparent or translucent coating on the machining, polishing, or etching shall follow shot, sand, grit,
surface of the part. Certain types of film developer will fix and vapor blasting to remove the peened skin and when
indications and may be stripped from the part and retained for penetrant entrapment in surface irregularities might mask the
record purposes (see 7.1.7.1(d)). indications of unacceptable discontinuities or otherwise inter-
fere with the effectiveness of the examination. For metals,
7. Procedure unless otherwise specified, etching shall be performed when
7.1 The following general procedure applies to the fluores- evidence exists that previous cleaning, surface treatments, or
cent penetrant testing water-washable method (see Fig. 1). service usage have produced a surface condition that degrades

Incoming Parts
Alkaline Steam Vapor Degrease Solvent Wash Acid Etch
PRECLEAN
(See 7.1.3.1)
Mechanical Paint Stripper Ultrasonic Detergent
DRY
(See 7.1.3.2)
Dry

PENETRANT Apply Water-

APPLICATION Washable
(See 7.1.4) Penetrant
FINAL RINSE
(See 7.1.5)
Water Wash
Spray Dip
DRY DEVELOP Developer
(See 7.1.6) (See 7.1.7) Dry (Aqueous)
DEVELOP DRY Developer,
(See 7.1.7) (See 7.1.6) Dry, Dry
Nonaqueous
or
Liquid Film
EXAMINE
(See 7.1.8)
Examine
Water Rinse Detergent Mechanical
Wash
POST CLEAN
(See 7.1.10 and
Prac-
tice E165/E165M,
Annex on
Post Cleaning.)
Dry
Vapor Degrease Solvent Soak Ultrasonic Clean
Outgoing Parts

FIG. 1 General Procedure Flowsheet for Fluorescent Penetrant Testing Using the Water-Washable Process
--`,,,,````,``,,,`,,`,,`-`-``,```,,,`---

Copyright ASTM International

Provided by IHS Markit under license with ASTM
3Order Number: 02223177
Sold to:AEROLINEAS ARGENTINAS S.A. [700168] - ANGEL.LUQUET@AEROLINEAS.COM.AR,
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Not for Resale,2018-12-17 17:33:41 UTC
 E1209 − 18
the effectiveness of the examination. (See Annex on Cleaning NOTE 6—For some specific applications in structural ceramics (for
Parts and Materials in Practice E165/E165M for general example, detecting parting lines in slip-cast material), the required
penetrant dwell time should be determined experimentally and may be
precautions relative to surface preparation.) longer than that shown in Table 1 and its notes.
NOTE 4—When agreed between purchaser and supplier, grit blasting 7.1.4.2 Penetrant Dwell Time—After application, allow ex-
without subsequent etching may be an acceptable cleaning method. cess penetrant to drain from the part (care should be taken to
(Warning—Sand or shot blasting may possibly close indications and
extreme care should be used with grinding and machining operations.) prevent pools of penetrant on the part), while allowing for
NOTE 5—For structural or electronic ceramics, surface preparation by proper penetrant dwell time (see Table 1). The length of time
grinding, sand blasting, and etching for penetrant testing is not recom- the penetrant must remain on the part to allow proper penetra-
mended because of the potential for damage. tion should be as recommended by the penetrant manufacturer.
7.1.3 Removal of Surface Contaminants: Table 1, however, provides a guide for selection of penetrant
7.1.3.1 Precleaning—The success of any penetrant testing dwell times for a variety of materials, forms, and types of
procedure is greatly dependent upon the surface and disconti- discontinuity. Unless otherwise specified, the dwell time shall
nuity being free of any contaminant (solid or liquid) that might not exceed the maximum recommended by the manufacturer.
interfere with the penetrant process. All parts or areas of parts 7.1.5 Removal of Excess Penetrant—After the required
to be examined must be clean and dry before the penetrant is penetration time, the excess penetrant on the surface being
applied. If only a section of a part, such as weld including the examined must be removed with water, usually a washing
heat-affected zone, is to be examined, all contaminants shall be operation. It can be washed off manually, by the use of
removed from the area being examined as defined by the automatic or semiautomatic water-spray equipment, or by
contracting parties. “Clean” is intended to mean that the immersion. Accumulation of water in pockets or recesses of the
surface must be free of any rust, scale, welding flux, spatter, surface must be avoided. If over-removal is suspected, dry (see
grease, paint, oily films, dirt, etc., that might interfere with 7.1.6) and reclean the part, then reapply the penetrant for the
penetration. All of these contaminants can prevent the pen- prescribed dwell time. (Warning—Avoid overwashing. Exces-
etrant from entering discontinuities. (See Annex on Cleaning of sive washing can cause penetrant to be washed out of discon-
Parts and Materials in Practice E165/E165M for more detailed tinuities. Perform the rinsing operation under UV-A radiation
cleaning methods.) (Warning—Residues from cleaning pro- so that it can be determined when the surface penetrant has
cesses such as strong alkalies, pickling solutions, and been adequately removed.) The CEO may specify maximum
chromates, in particular, may adversely react with the penetrant wash times.
and reduce its sensitivity and performance.) 7.1.5.1 Immersion Rinsing—For immersion rinsing, parts
7.1.3.2 Drying After Cleaning—It is essential that the sur- are completely immersed in the water bath with air or
faces be thoroughly dry after cleaning, since any liquid residue mechanical agitation. Final rinsing of water-washable, fluores-
will hinder the entrance of the penetrant. Drying may be cent penetrants by spray application can be accomplished by
accomplished by warming the parts in drying ovens, with either manual or automatic water spray rinsing of the parts.
infrared lamps, forced hot or cold air, or by exposure to (a) Rinse time—Maximum should be specified by part or
ambient temperature. material specification with consideration to prevent the wash-
7.1.4 Penetrant Application—After the part has been ing out of penetrant from discontinuities.
cleaned, dried, and is within the specified temperature range,
apply the penetrant to the surface to be examined so that the
entire part or area under examination is completely covered TABLE 1 Recommended Minimum Dwell Times
with penetrant.
Dwell TimesA
7.1.4.1 Modes of Application—There are various modes of Type of (min)
Material Form
effective application of penetrant such as dipping, brushing, Discontinuity Pene- Devel-
flooding, or spraying. Small parts are quite often placed in trantB operC
suitable baskets and dipped into a tank of penetrant. On larger Aluminum, castings and cold shuts, 5 10
magnesium, steel, welds porosity,
parts, and those with complex geometries, penetrant can be brass and bronze, lack of fusion,
applied effectively by brushing or spraying. Both conventional titanium and cracks (all forms)
and electrostatic spray guns are effective means of applying high-temperature
alloys
liquid penetrants to the part surfaces. Electrostatic spray wrought- laps, cracks (all 10 10
application can eliminate excess liquid buildup of penetrant on materials— forms)
the surface, minimize overspray, and minimize the amount of extrusions,
forgings, plate
penetrant entering hollow-cored passages which might serve as Carbide-tipped tools lack of fusion, 5 10
penetrant reservoirs, causing severe bleedout problems during porosity, cracks
examination. Aerosol sprays are conveniently portable and Plastic all forms cracks 5 10
Glass all forms cracks 5 10
suitable for local application. (Warning—Not all penetrant Ceramic all forms cracks, porosity 5 10
materials are suitable for electrostatic spray applications.) A
For temperature range from 40° to 125°F (4° to 52°C).
(Warning—With spray applications, it is important that there B
Maximum penetrant dwell time 60 min in accordance with 7.1.4.2.
C
be proper ventilation. This is generally accomplished through Development time begins as soon as wet developer coating has dried on surface
of parts (recommended minimum). Maximum development time in accordance
the use of a properly designed spray booth and exhaust with 7.1.7.2.
system.)
--`,,,,````,``,,,`,,`,,`-`-``,```,,,`---

Copyright ASTM International

Provided by IHS Markit under license with ASTM
4Order Number: 02223177
Sold to:AEROLINEAS ARGENTINAS S.A. [700168] - ANGEL.LUQUET@AEROLINEAS.COM.AR,
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Not for Resale,2018-12-17 17:33:41 UTC
 E1209 − 18
(b) The temperature of the water should be relatively appears as a translucent or white coating on the part. Prepare
constant and should be maintained within the range of 50° to and maintain aqueous, wet developers in accordance with the
100°F (10° to 38°C). manufacturer’s instructions and apply them in such a manner
7.1.5.2 Spray Rinsing—For spray rinsing, parts can be as to assure complete, even coverage. Aqueous developers may
rinsed by either manual or automatic water spray rinsing as be applied by spraying, flowing, or immersing the part.
follows: Atomized spraying is not recommended since a spotty film
(a) Manual spray rinse water pressure should not be greater may result. It is most common to immerse the parts in the
than 40 psi (275 kPa). prepared developer bath. Immerse parts only long enough to
(b) Rinse time—Rinse time should be kept to a minimum coat all of the part surfaces with the developer, since if parts are
to prevent over rinsing. left in bath too long, indications may leach out. Then remove
(c) The temperature of the water should be relatively parts from the developer bath immediately and allow to drain.
constant and should be maintained within the range of 50° to Drain all excess developer from recesses and trapped sections
100°F (10° to 38°C). to eliminate pooling of developer, which can obscure discon-
7.1.5.3 Removal by Wiping—In special applications, pen- tinuities. Dry the parts in accordance with 7.1.6. (Warning—
etrant removal may be performed by wiping the surface with a Aqueous developers may cause stripping of indications, if not
clean, absorbent material dampened with water until the excess properly applied and controlled. The procedure should be
surface penetrant is removed, as determined by examination qualified in accordance with 9.2.)
under UV-A radiation. This process shall be performed in (c) Nonaqueous, Wet Developers—Nonaqueous, wet de-
accordance with Practice E1219. veloper carriers evaporate very rapidly at normal room tem-

--`,,,,````,``,,,`,,`,,`-`-``,```,,,`---
7.1.6 Drying—During the preparation of parts for perature and do not, therefore, require the use of a dryer. After
examination, drying is necessary following the application of the excess penetrant has been removed and the surface has
the aqueous, wet developer or prior to applying dry or been dried, apply these developers to the surface by spraying in
nonaqueous developers. Drying time will vary with the size, such a manner as to ensure complete coverage with a thin, even
nature, and number of parts under examination. film of developer. Application of excessive developer should
7.1.6.1 Modes of Drying—Parts can be dried by using a be avoided. Dipping or flooding parts with nonaqueous, wet
hot-air recirculating oven, a hot- or cold-air blast, or by developers is prohibited, since it will flush (dissolve) the
exposure to ambient temperature. Drying is best done in a penetrant from within the discontinuities because of the solvent
thermostatically controlled recirculating hot-air dryer. action of these types of developers. (Warning—The vapors
(Warning—Drying oven temperature should not exceed 160°F from the evaporating, volatile, solvent developer carrier may
(71°C).) be hazardous. Proper ventilation should be provided in all
7.1.6.2 Drying Time Limits—Do not allow parts to remain in cases, but especially when the surface to be examined is inside
the drying oven any longer than is necessary to dry the part. a closed volume such as a process drum or a small storage
Excessive time in the dryer may impair the sensitivity of the tank.)
examination. (d) Liquid Film Developers—Apply by spraying or dipping
7.1.7 Developer Application: as recommended by the manufacturer. Spray parts in such a
manner as to ensure complete coverage of the area being
7.1.7.1 There are various modes of effective application of
examined with a thin, even film of developer.
the various types of developers such as dusting, immersing,
(e) No Developer—For certain applications, it is
flooding, or spraying. The size, configuration, surface
permissible, and may be appropriate, to conduct this examina-
condition, number of parts to be processed, etc., will influence
tion without the use of developer.
the choice of developer application.
(a) Dry Powder Developer—Apply dry powder developers 7.1.7.2 Developer Time—The minimum and maximum pen-
immediately after drying in such a manner as to assure etrant bleedout time with no developer shall be 10 min and 2 h
complete coverage. Parts can be immersed into a container of respectively. Developing time for dry developer begins imme-
dry developer or into a fluid bed of dry developer. They can diately after the application of the dry developer and begins
also be dusted with the powder developer using a hand powder when the developer coating has dried for wet developers
bulb or a conventional or electrostatic powder gun. It is quite (aqueous and nonaqueous). The minimum developer dwell
common and most effective to apply dry powder in an enclosed time shall be 10 min for all types of developer. The maximum
dust chamber, which creates an effective and controlled dust developer dwell time shall be 1 h for nonaqueous developer,
cloud. Other means suited to the size and geometry of the 2 h for aqueous developer, and 4 h for dry developers.
specimen may be used provided the powder is dusted evenly 7.1.8 Examination—Perform examination of parts after the
over the entire surface being examined. Excess powder may be applicable development time as specified in 7.1.7.2 to allow for
removed by gently shaking or tapping the part, or by blowing bleedout of penetrant from discontinuities onto the developer
with low-pressure not exceeding (5 psi (34 kPa)) dry, clean coating. It is good practice to observe the surface while
compressed air. (Warning—The air stream intensity should be applying the developer as an aid in evaluating indications.
established experimentally for each application.) 7.1.8.1 UV-A Irradiation—Examine fluorescent penetrant
(b) Aqueous Developers—Apply aqueous developers to the indications under UV-A radiation in a darkened area. Visible
part immediately after the excess penetrant has been removed ambient light should not exceed 2 ft/candles (20 lux). This
from the part and prior to drying. The dried developer coating measurement should be made with a suitable photographic type

Copyright ASTM International

Provided by IHS Markit under license with ASTM
5Order Number: 02223177
Sold to:AEROLINEAS ARGENTINAS S.A. [700168] - ANGEL.LUQUET@AEROLINEAS.COM.AR,
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Not for Resale,2018-12-17 17:33:41 UTC
 E1209 − 18
visible light meter on the surface being examined. UV-A particularly important where residual penetrant testing materi-
irradiance shall be measured with a UV-A radiometer. A als might combine with other factors in service to produce
minimum of 1000 µW/cm2 at 15 in. [38.1 cm] from the front corrosion. A suitable technique, such as a simple water rinse,
of the filter to the face of the sensor is recommended. The water spray, machine wash, vapor degreasing, solvent soak, or
UV-A source shall have a peak wavelength in the range of 360 ultrasonic cleaning may be employed (see Practice E165/
to 370 nm. The UV-A irradiance shall be checked daily to E165M, Annex on Post Cleaning). It is recommended that if
assure the required output. (Warning—Certain high-intensity developer removal is necessary, it shall be carried out as
UV-A sources may emit unacceptable amounts of visible light, promptly as possible after examination so that it does not fix on
which may cause fluorescent indications to disappear. Care the part. Water spray rinsing is generally adequate.
should be taken to use components such as bulbs and filters (Warning—Developers should be removed prior to vapor
certified by the supplier to be suitable for such examination degreasing. Vapor degreasing can bake developer on parts.)
purposes.)
8. Special Requirements
NOTE 7—The recommended minimum in 7.1.8.1 is intended for general
usage. For critical examinations, higher UV-A irradiance may be required. 8.1 Impurities:
(1) LED UV-A Sources—LED UV-A sources used for 8.1.1 When using penetrant materials on austenitic stainless
examination purposes shall meet the requirements of Practice steels, titanium, nickel-base, or other high-temperature alloys,
E3022. The inspection process shall consider UV-A LED lamp the need to restrict impurities such as sulfur, halogens, and
intensity degradation and lamp maximum operating tempera- alkali metals must be considered. These impurities may cause
ture defined by the manufacturer’s certification (Practice embrittlement or corrosion, particularly at elevated tempera-
E3022). tures. Any such evaluation should also include consideration of
7.1.8.2 UV-A Source Stabilization—For all UV-A sources the form in which the impurities are present. Some penetrant
except LED UV-A sources, allow the UV-A source to stabilize materials contain significant amounts of these impurities in the
for a minimum of 10 min prior to its use or the measurement form of volatile organic solvents. These normally evaporate
of UV-A irradiation. quickly and usually do not cause problems. Other materials
(1) LED UV-A sources are at full intensity at power-on, may contain impurities that are not volatile and may react with
and the intensity may decrease as the lamp warms up. the part, particularly in the presence of moisture or elevated
temperatures.
NOTE 8—More information on UV-A and visible lamps, UV-A 8.1.2 Because volatile solvents leave the tested surface
radiometers, and visible light meters can be found in Guide E2297.
quickly without reaction under normal inspection procedures,
7.1.8.3 Special UV Lighting—The light intensity of UV-A penetrant materials are normally subjected to an evaporation
pencil lamps, UV-A light guides, borescopes, or remote UV-A procedure to remove the solvents before the materials are
examination equipment shall be measured at the expected analyzed for impurities. The residue from this procedure is
working distance and shall provide at least 1000 µW/cm2 (10 then analyzed by Test Method D129, Test Method D1552, or
W/m2) at the intended examination surface. When using Test Method D129 decomposition followed by Test Method
borescopes or remote video examination equipment, the image D516, Method B (Turbidimetric Method) for sulfur. The
or interpretation area being viewed shall have sufficient reso- residue may also be analyzed by Test Method D808, Annex on
lution to effectively evaluate the area of examination. Methods for Measuring Total Chlorine Content in Combustible
(1) Battery powered UV-A lamps used to inspect parts shall Liquid Penetrant Materials (for halogens other than fluorine)

--`,,,,````,``,,,`,,`,,`-`-``,```,,,`---
have their intensity measured prior to and at the end of each and Practice E165/E165M, Annex on Method for Measuring
use, inspection, shift, or day as defined by the written proce- Total Fluorine Content in Combustible Liquid Penetrant Ma-
dure. The minimum UV light intensity shall be 1000 µW/cm2 terials (for fluorine). The Annex on Determination of Anions
at 15 in. [38.1 cm]. and Cations by Ion Chromatography in Practice E165/E165M
7.1.8.4 Visual Adaptation—The examiner should be in the can be used as an alternate procedure. Alkali metals in the
darkened area for at least 1 min before examining parts. Longer residue are also determined by flame photometry or atomic
times may be necessary for more complete adaptation under absorption spectrophotometry.
some circumstances. (Warning—Photochromic or darkened NOTE 9—Some current standards indicate that impurity levels of sulfur
lenses shall not be worn during examination.) and halogens exceeding 1 % of any one suspect element are considered
7.1.8.5 Housekeeping—Keep the examination area free of excessive. However, this high a level may be unacceptable in some cases,
interfering debris or fluorescent objects. Practice good house- so the actual maximum acceptable impurity level must be decided
between supplier and user on a case by case basis.
keeping at all times.
7.1.9 Evaluation—Unless otherwise agreed upon, it is nor- 8.2 Elevated Temperature Testing—Where penetrant testing
mal practice to interpret and evaluate the discontinuity indica- is performed on parts that must be maintained at elevated
tion based on the size of the penetrant indication created by the temperature during evaluation, special materials and process-
developer’s absorption of the penetrant (see Reference Photo- ing techniques may be required. Such examination requires
graphs E433). qualification in accordance with 9.2. Manufacturer’s recom-
7.1.10 Post Cleaning—Post cleaning is necessary in those mendations should be observed.
cases where residual penetrant or developer could interfere 8.3 Reduced Temperature Testing—Where penetrant testing
with subsequent processing or with service requirements. It is is performed on parts that must be maintained at reduced

Copyright ASTM International

Provided by IHS Markit under license with ASTM
6Order Number: 02223177
Sold to:AEROLINEAS ARGENTINAS S.A. [700168] - ANGEL.LUQUET@AEROLINEAS.COM.AR,
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Not for Resale,2018-12-17 17:33:41 UTC
 E1209 − 18
temperature during evaluation, special materials and process- and should be agreed upon by the contracting parties. A test
ing techniques may be required. Such examination requires piece containing one or more discontinuities of the smallest
qualification in accordance with 9.2. Manufacturer’s recom- relevant size is used. The test piece may contain real or
mendations should be observed. simulated discontinuities, providing it displays the character-
istics of the discontinuities encountered in production exami-
9. Qualification and Requalification nations.
9.1 Personnel Qualification—Personnel performing exami-
9.3 Nondestructive Testing Agency Qualification—If a non-
nations to this standard shall be qualified in accordance with a
destructive testing agency as described in Specification E543 is
nationally or internationally recognized NDT personnel quali-
used to perform the examination, the agency shall meet the
fication practice or standard such as ANSI/ASNT-CP-189,
requirements of Specification E543.
SNT-TC-1A, NAS 410, ISO 9712, or a similar document and
certified by the employer or certifying agency, as applicable. 9.4 Requalification—may be required when a change or
The practice or standard used and its applicable revision shall substitution is made in the type of penetrant materials or in the
be identified in the contractual agreement between the using procedure (see 9.2).
parties.
9.2 Procedure Qualification—Qualification of procedure us- 10. Keywords
ing conditions or times differing from those specified or for 10.1 fluorescent liquid penetrant testing; nondestructive
new materials may be performed by any of several methods testing; water-washable method

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee E07 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue (E1209-10)
that may impact the use of this standard.

(1) Changed Test Method E165 to Practice E165/E165M (17) Added information to address over-washing in 7.1.5.1(a).
throughout. (18) Changed 7.1.5.2(a) to apply to manual spray only.
(2) Changed black light to UV-A radiation throughout. (19) Changed 7.1.5.2(b) to “Rinse time should be kept to a
(3) Changed black lights to UV-A sources throughout. minimum to prevent over rinsing.”
(4) Changed black light intensity to UV-A irradiance through- (20) Moved advisory over aqueous developer from section and
out. added content as warning in 7.1.7.1.
(5) Added E3022, E1219, and E2297 in 2.1. (21) Reorganized 7.1.8.1 – 7.1.8.3 for clarity and introduced
(6) Deleted MIL-STD-410 and added ISO 9712 in 2.3. LED UV-A devices.
(7) Added AMS 2644 in 2.4. (22) In 7.1.8.1, corrected lux equivalent; changed shall to
(8) Updated the address for AIA in Footnote 7. should; added the 15 in. distance and removed line drop
(9) Added a new note to 3.1. Renumbered subsequent notes. cautionary note; added filters to last sentence; reinstated the
(10) Added footnotes for ANSI and SAE in Section 2.
2ft/candle maximum ambient visible light limit; and made
(11) Changed terminology from inspection to examination in
other clerical changes for clarity.
7.1.4.
(23) In 7.1.8.1(1), added used for examination purposes; re-
(12) Added reference to AMS 2644 materials in 6.1.
(13) Made a clerical change for clarity in 6.3. moved “on the surface of the examined;” and added notation
(14) Changed Annex on Mechanical Cleaning and Surface for the inspection process to consider UV-A LED lamp
Conditioning and Annex on Acid Etching to Annex on Cleaning intensity degradation and operating temperature.
Parts and Materials to update current annex title in the last (24) Removed recommended 1000 µW output from 7.1.8.2.
sentence of 7.1.2. (25) 7.1.8.3 was replaced in whole.
(15) Added maximum wash time statement in 7.1.5, as there (26) Added the word also to last sentence of 8.1.2.
was no mention of such for manual washing. Changed black (27) Added 8.3.
light to UV-A radiation in the same section. (28) Revised 9.1 to recognize other certification protocols.
(16) Separated spray rinsing from immersion rinsing and (29) Changed temperature in Footnote A of Table 1 to match
changed effective to final rinse in 7.1.5.1 and 7.1.5.2. 7.1.1.

--`,,,,````,``,,,`,,`,,`-`-``,```,,,`---

Copyright ASTM International

Provided by IHS Markit under license with ASTM
7Order Number: 02223177
Sold to:AEROLINEAS ARGENTINAS S.A. [700168] - ANGEL.LUQUET@AEROLINEAS.COM.AR,
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Not for Resale,2018-12-17 17:33:41 UTC
 E1209 − 18
ASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item mentioned
in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the risk
of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years and
if not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards
and should be addressed to ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the
responsible technical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you should
make your views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, at the address shown below.

This standard is copyrighted by ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959,
United States. Individual reprints (single or multiple copies) of this standard may be obtained by contacting ASTM at the above
address or at 610-832-9585 (phone), 610-832-9555 (fax), or service@astm.org (e-mail); or through the ASTM website
(www.astm.org). Permission rights to photocopy the standard may also be secured from the Copyright Clearance Center, 222
Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, Tel: (978) 646-2600; http://www.copyright.com/

--`,,,,````,``,,,`,,`,,`-`-``,```,,,`---

Copyright ASTM International

Provided by IHS Markit under license with ASTM
8Order Number: 02223177
Sold to:AEROLINEAS ARGENTINAS S.A. [700168] - ANGEL.LUQUET@AEROLINEAS.COM.AR,
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Not for Resale,2018-12-17 17:33:41 UTC