Level II Questions

Liquid Penetrant Testing Method

1. Which of the following physical properties, more than any other, determines what makes a material a
good penetrant?

a. viscosity
b. surface tension
c. wetting ability
d. no one single property determines if a material will or will not be a good penetrant
D.37

2. The speed with which a penetrant penetrates a surface flaw is influenced to the greatest extent by
which of the following properties?

a. density
b. surface tension and wetting ability
c. viscosity
d. relative weight
D.37

3. Which of the statements concerning the operation of the black light bulbs of the mercury arc type is
false?

a. the bulb takes about 5 minutes to warm up to its full output when first turned on
b. the lamp may go out if the line voltage drops below 90 V
c. line voltage variations above 120 V will have little or no effect on the bulb
d. if for any reason the arc is extinguished, the bulb will not immediately respond if the lamp is turned
on right after it has been turned off
D.214

4. Which of the items listed below is a disadvantage of using the liquid penetrant test method?

a. the method can find all types of discontinuities

b. the method is simple in principle and relatively easy to understand
c. the method is essentially simple in application
d. there are few limitations on the size and shape of the article that can be treated by this method
D.25-27

5. Which of the statements below applies to the liquid penetrant method of testing?

a. the penetrant test method is less flexible than the eddy current test method
b. the penetrant test method is less reliable than the magnetic particle method for finding surface
defects in ferromagnetic materials
c. the penetrant test method will not detect fatigue cracks
d. the penetrant test method is more reliable than radiographic testing when attempting to detect
minute surface discontinuities
D.26

6. Which of the following types of discontinuities cannot be detected by the liquid penetrant test method?

a. surface laminations
b. internal forging bursts
c. surface cracks
 d. surface laps
D.27

7. Which of the following types of discontinuities could be classified as a primary processing

discontinuity often found in cast material?

a. fatigue crack
b. stress-corrosion crack
c. porosity
d. lack of penetration
D.276

8. Which of the following discontinuities could be classified as a finishing processing discontinuity?

a. fatigue crack
b. stress-corrosion crack
c. lamination
d. heat-treat crack
D.277

9. Which of the following discontinuities could be classified as a service induced discontinuity?

a. fatigue crack
b. porosity
c. machining tear
d. lap
D.277

10. Which of the test part characteristics listed below are normally considered before the specific liquid
penetrant test method is selected?

a. the kind and size of discontinuities most likely to occur

b. the intended application for the part
c. the surface finish of the part
d. all of the above
D.280

11. Aluminum alloy test specimens that have been tested by the liquid penetrant method should be
thoroughly cleaned after testing because:

a. the acid in the penetrant may cause severe corrosion

b. the alkaline content of wet developers and most emulsifiers could result in surface pitting,
particularly in moist atmospheres
c. the toxic residue from the test will severely inhibit the application of paint on aluminum alloys
d. a chemical reaction between the penetrant and aluminum could cause a fire because of internal
combustion
D.176

12. Which of the following foreign matter might block the openings of discontinuities if the surface of a
test specimen is not properly cleaned?

a. paint
b. scale
c. core and mold material
d. all of the above
F.31
13. All of the following methods are recommended to remove grease from the surface of a penetrant test
specimen except:

a. vapor degreasing
b. alkaline cleaning
c. cleaning with solvent-type material
d. hot water rinsing
D.106

14. The penetrant indication for a cold shut on the surface of a casting will be a:

a. dotted or smooth continuous line

b. cluster of small indications
c. rough deep indication
d. large bulbous indication
F.41

15. The penetrant indication of a forging lap will normally be a:

a. round or nearly round indication

b. cluster of indications
c. continuous line
d. dotted line
D.302

16. When conducting a penetrant test, spherical indications on the surface of a part could be indicative of:

a. fatigue cracks
b. porosity
c. weld laps
d. hot tears
F.41

17. Penetrant developer is commonly available in all of the following forms except:

a. dry developer
b. non-aqueous developer
c. wet developer
d. high viscosity developer
F.25

18. Which of the following is a possible cause for false penetrant indications?

a. excessive washing
b. inadequate application of developers
c. penetrant or part too cold during penetration time
d. lint or dirt
D.317

19. Penetrant residues may become entrapped under splines, fasteners, rivets, etc. Which of the following
is the most likely reaction caused by such a residue?

a. corrosion caused by the moisture attracted by such residues

b. paint stripping
c. fatigue cracking
 d. lattice structure breakdown
D.98

20. Developer assists in the detection of penetrants retained in discontinuities by aiding the:

a. post-cleaning process
b. emulsification process
c. bleed-out process
d. drying process
F.39

21. Developer assists in the detection of the visible dye penetrant test indications by:

a. providing a clean surface

b. providing a contrasting background
c. providing a dry surface
d. emulsifying the penetrant bleed-out
F.39

22. When using post-emulsification penetrants, difficulties incurred during the washing operation can be
overcome by:

a. reapplying a coating of emulsifier

b. increasing the water pressure used during the washing operation
c. completely reprocessing the part from surface preparation on and by using a longer emulsifier time
d. dipping the part in boiling water
D.195

23. Which of the following methods for applying non-aqueous developer is normally considered the most
effective?

a. spraying
b. swabbing
c. brushing
d. dipping
F.27

24. Of the methods listed below, the most effective means of pre-cleaning a test item prior to a penetrant
test is:

a. vapor degreasing
b. detergent cleaning
c. steam cleaning
d. solvent wiping
D.106

25. Fluorescent materials used in fluorescent penetrants respond most actively to radiant energy with a
wavelength of approximately:

a. 7 00 nm (7 000 Å)
b. 250 kV
c. 3 65 nm (3 650 Å)
d. 1 klx (100 ftc)
D.213
26. When performing a liquid penetrant test using solvent removable visible dye penetrant, there are
several ways to remove excess penetrant from the surface of the part. Which of the methods listed
below is generally regarded as most suitable for giving accurate test results?

a. squirting solvent over the surface with no more than 276 kPa (40 psi) pressure
b. wiping with a soaking wet cloth, then wiping with a dry cloth
c. wiping with a solvent dampened cloth, then wiping with dry cloths
d. wiping with dry paper wipes, then wiping with a solvent dampened cloth, and finally wiping with
dry cloth
D.236

27. Emulsifier time:

a. is important but not normally critical

b. is the time needed to rinse the emulsifier and excess penetrant from the surface
c. is extremely important and will greatly affect test results
d. should be as long as economically practical
D.193

28. Prior to the penetrant testing of a previously machined soft metal part, which of the cleaning methods
listed below would best remove any smeared metal that could mask discontinuities?

a. etching
b. shot peening
c. alkaline cleaning
d. water cleaning with detergents
F.31

29. Why is the drying process used in penetrant testing?

a. the drying process is used to assure that all excess penetrant will evaporate
b. the drying process assures the uniform drying of dry developer applied over a wet emulsifier
c. the drying process reduces penetration time
d. after the application of a wet developer, the drying process aids in securing a uniform developer
coating
F.30

30. Which of the following reasons best describes why excessive drying of a part should be avoided?

a. the extra time required is wasted

b. the developer may lose its blotting ability
c. a reduction in resolution may result
d. the excess developer may be difficult to remove
D.122

31. Which of the following is the best reason why the inspector should avoid applying emulsifier with a
brush?

a. the brushing action mixes the emulsifier with the penetrant prematurely and irregularly, making
accurate control of the emulsification time impossible
b. brushing does not always completely coat the part, thereby leaving a portion of the part difficult to
wash
c. brushing in itself is not harmful, but many types of brush materials combine with the emulsifier
agents resulting in penetrant and part contamination
d. brushing results in a streaking appearance during inspection
D.192
32. Developing time depends on:

a. the type of penetrant used

b. the type of developer used and type of discontinuity to be detected
c. the temperature of the material being tested
d. all of the above
D.198

33. When using a fluorescent, post-emulsifiable penetrant, the length of time the emulsifier is allowed to
remain on the part is critical when detecting shallow scratch-like discontinuities. The best length of
time should be:

a. 10 seconds
b. 5 seconds
c. 2-3 seconds
d. determined by experimentation
D.193

34. Which of the following statements concerning contaminating materials on the surface of a penetrant
test specimen is false?

a. the contaminant may be of a composition that attacks the penetrant and reduces the fluorescence or
color of the penetrant
b. the contaminant may reduce or even prevent capillary action by the penetrant
c. the contaminant may retain the penetrant and thus increase the sensitivity of the inspection
d. the contaminant may completely fill the crack and thus prevent the entry of penetrant

35. Water-washable liquid penetrants differ from post-emulsification penetrants in that water-washable
penetrants:

a. can only be used on aluminum test specimens

b. do not need to be removed from surfaces prior to development
c. have a soapy base
d. do not need the application of an emulsifier before rinsing
D.152

36. The function of the emulsifier in the post-emulsification penetrant method is to:

a. more rapidly drive the penetrant into deep, tight cracks

b. react with the surface penetrant to make the penetrant water-washable
c. add fluorescent dye or pigment to the penetrant
d. provide a coating to which dry powder developer can adhere
F.25

37. When penetrant testing for shallow discontinuities using a post-emulsification penetrant, the
emulsification time should be long enough to:

a. mix the emulsifier with the excess surface penetrant only

b. mix the emulsifier with all the penetrant on the surface and in discontinuities
c. mix the emulsifier with penetrant in the discontinuities
d. allow the emulsifier to dry out to a white powder
D.193

38. Which of the following practices should be avoided when performing a penetrant test?