Extender for dye penetrant composition

Abstract

A liquid dye penetrant composition for use in nondestructive testing of objects to locate cracks and other defects or flaws therein, said composition comprising (1) a nonionic surfactant, such as an ocyalkylated aliphatic alcohol, (2) a small amount of a dye soluble in the surfactant and (3) a substantial and preferably a major proportion, of a high boiling narrow-cut isoparaffinic solvent consisting essentially of a mixture of isoparaffins having a chain length of about 10 to about 17 carbon atoms, and an average chain length of about 13 to about 14 carbon atoms, as extender. Such composition is applied to the surface of an object containing cracks and other defects, water is applied to the surface of the object to remove excess liquid dye penetrant composition from the surface without removing such penetrant from such cracks and other defects, and with or without a developer, the surface of the object is viewed under suitable lighting conditions, e.g. ultraviolet or black light when the dye in the penetrant is a fluorescent dye, to locate any cracks or other defects in the surface of the body as indicated by colored traces from the dye penetrant remaining in such cracks and other defects.