Red-visible dye penetrant composition and method employing same

Abstract

A liquid dye penetrant composition for use in non-destructive testing of objects to locate cracks and other defects or flaws therein, said composition comprising a liquid vehicle, preferably a nonionic surfactant such as an oxyalkylated aliphatic alcohol, and a single phase liquid red azo dye composition consisting essentially of C.sub.5 -C.sub.12 alkyl beta naphthols, particularly C.sub.7 H.sub.15 beta naphthols, and containing a liquid organic viscosity depressant compatible with the azo dyes, such as xylene, as represented by the dye composition marketed as Automate Red 'B', and which is substantially free of insolubles. The dye penetrant composition may include an extender, preferably an 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. Such dye penetrant 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 the cracks and other defects, and with or without a developer, the surface of the object is viewed under visible light to locate any cracks or other defects in the surface of the body as indicated by brilliant red traces from the dye penetrant remaining in such cracks and other defects.