Magnetic Particle Inspection Training Course
Magnetic Particle Inspection Training Course
Magnetic Particle Inspection Training Course
Magnetic Particle Inspection is a non-destructive testing method used for defect detection.
MPI is a fast and relatively easy to apply and part surface preparation is not as critical as it
is for some other NDT methods. These characteristics make MPI one of the most widely
utilized non-destructive testing methods. MPI uses magnetic fields and small magnetic
particles, such as iron filings to detect flaws in components.
The only requirement from an inspect ability standpoint is that the component being
inspected must be made of a ferromagnetic material such iron, nickel, cobalt, or some of
their alloys. Ferromagnetic materials are materials that can be magnetized to a level that
will allow the inspection to be effective. The method is used to inspect a variety of product
forms such as castings, forgings, and weldments. Many different industries use Magnetic
Particle Inspection for determining a component's fitness-for-use. Some examples of
industries that use magnetic particle inspection are the structural steel, automotive,
petrochemical, power generation, and aerospace industries. Underwater inspection is
another area where magnetic particle inspection may be used to test items such as offshore
structures and underwater pipelines.
Magnetic particle testing or MPT is a nondestructive testing method for locating surface
and near surface discontinuities in ferromagnetic materials. It depends for its operation on
the fact that when the material or part under test is magnetized, discontinuities that lie in a
cause leakage field to the direction of the magnetic field will cause a leakage field to be
formed at and above the surface of the part. The presence of this leakage field, and
therefore the presence of the discontinuity, is detected by the use of finely divided
ferromagnetic particle applied over the surface, some of the particle being gathered and
held by the leakage field. This magnetically held collection of particle forms an outline of the
discontinuity and generally indicates its location, size, shape and extent. Magnetic particles
are applied over a surface as dry particles, or as wet particle in a liquid.
Ferromagnetic materials include most of the iron, nickel and cobalt alloys. These materials
lose their ferromagnetic properties above a characteristic temperature called the Curie point
which is approximately 760◦ C for most of the ferromagnetic material.
Applications
The principal industrial uses of magnetic article testing are final inspection, receiving
inspection, in process inspection and quality control, maintenance and overhaul in the
transportation industries, plant and machinery maintenance and inspection of large
components.
Limitations
Thin coatings of paint and other non-magnetic coverings, such as plating; adversely affect
sensitivity of magnetic particle inspection. Other limitations are: