Contents

Sr. No. Description Page No.

1.0 Scope 2
2.0 Reference 2
3.0 Qualification Personnel 2
4.0 Examination Medium 2
5.0 Equipment 2
6.0 Surface Cleaning 2
7.0 Preparation of Wet Magnetic Particle Suspension 3
8.0 Examination Procedure 3
9.0 Evaluation 4
10.0 Acceptance Criteria 4
11.0 Re-Examination of Repair Areas 4
12.0 Post Examination Cleaning 5
13.0 Procedure Re-Qualification 5
14.0 Demagnetization 5
15.0 Records / Annexure I 5
Magnetic Particle Test Report 6
1.0 SCOPE

This procedure shall be applied for performing Magnetic Particle Examination to detect cracks and other
discontinuities on or near the surface of ferromagnetic materials, welds and components using wet or dry non-
fluorescent ferromagnetic particle and continuous AC yoke.

2.0 REFERENCES

2.1 ASME Sec-V, (2019)

2.2 ASME Sec-VIII Div-1. (2019)

2.3 SNT - TC-1A, (2019)

2.4 AWS D 1.1

2.5 ASME B 31.3

3.0 QUALIFICATION OF PERSONNEL

Magnetic particle examination shall be performed and interpreted by NDT personnel qualified to level-II.

4.0 EXAMINATION MEDIUM

Magnetic particle examination shall be carried out by using wet or dry visible, colour contrast magnetic particles
(Magnaflux make) of mix shape.

5.0 EQUIPMENT

Magnetization shall be performed using, 220 Volt AC Electro-magnetic counter yoke having minimum lifting
power of 10 lbs (4.55 kg) at a maximum pole spacing of 6.5". This will produce longitudinal magnetic field in
examination material. The lifting power of yoke at max pole spacing shall be checked at least once in a year or
after any repair /maintenance using weight with maximum pole spacing. The weight shall be weighed using scale
from reputed manufacturer and stencilled with applicable nominal weight prior to use and need to be verified
only in case of damage which could lead to potential loss of material.

6.0 SURFACE CLEANING

The surface to be examined and adjacent 1" (25mm) area shall be free from lint, dirt, scale, rust, grease, oil, paint
weld spatter and any type of coating or contamination which could interfere with mobility of magnetic particles,
mask the indication or create false indications. Normally, as-weld condition is acceptable, unless .weld surface
irregularities are present that could mask indications due to discontinuities. Cleaning of organic compound shall
be accomplished by solvent and other contaminations shall be removed by mechanical means (wire brushing,
grinding etc.)
7.0 PREPARETION OF WET MAGNETIC PARTICLE SUSPENSION

The wet magnetic particle shall be prepared in water approximately 20 gram of particle with conditioning agents
(Magna Flux make) shall be added in 1 litre of water. The concentration of magnetic particle-suspension shall be
determined by settling volume through use of an ASTM Pear shaped centrifuge tube with 1.5 mL stem (0.1 ml
division). The concentration shall be between 1.2 to 2.4 mL per 100 mL of well-mixed sample after settling time of
at least half an hour. The concentration shall be checked daily or prior to use.

8.0 EXMAINATION PROCEDURE

Before the magnetic particle examination is conducted, a check of the examination surface shall be conducted to
locate any discontinuity which may not attract and hold magnetic particles because of their width.

Longitudinal magnetic field shall be created with the help of AC Yoke. The yoke legs shall be in full contact with
the metal surface. Continuous method shall be used. The yoke shall be energized after it is properly positioned
and de energized before removal. The leg spacing shall not be less than 3" and more than 6.5" At each location
two examinations approximately perpendicular to each other shall be carried out. Yoke shall be placed across the
welds at an angle 30-45 degree from the long axis of the weld. Sufficient overlap shall be made to ensure 100%
coverage of the area requiring examination.

The ferromagnetic particles used in an examination medium can be either wet or dry:
(a) Dry Particles:

The magnetizing current shall remain "on" while the examination medium is being applied.
Accumulations or excess dry particles in examinations shall be removed with a light air stream
from a bulb or syringe or other source of low
pressure dry air. The examination current or power shall be maintained while removing the
excess particles.

(b) Wet Particles:

The magnetizing current shall be turned on after the particles have been applied. Flow of particles
shall stop with the application of current. Wet particles may be applied before and / or after
magnetizing current is applied. Wet particles may be applied during the application of
magnetizing current if they are not applied directly to the examination area and are allowed to
flow over the examination area or are applied directly to the examination area with low velocities
insufficient to remove accumulated particles. If an indication is observed, area shall be cleaned
and re-examined for conformance. During re-examination, the yoke legs shall be placed
perpendicular to the major direction of indication (this will give sensitivity and we can determine
extent of discontinuity effectively).

A minimum light intensity of 100 fc (1076 lux) shall be maintained during examination/evaluation.
This can be obtained by using 100 W lamp kept at 30 cm from surface. The light source, technique
used, and light level verification is required to be demonstrated, documented and maintained in
file. Light meter shall be calibrated at least once a year or whenever meter has been repaired. If
meter has not been in use for one year or more, calibration shall be done before being used.
9.0 EVALUATION

9.1 All indications shall be evaluated in terms of the acceptance standards of the referencing code
section.

9.2 Discontinuities on or near the surface are indicated by retention of the examination medium.
However, localized surface irregularities due to machining or grinding marks or other surface
conditions may produce false indication.

9.3 Broad areas of particle accumulation, which might mask indications form discontinuities, are
prohibited and such area shall be cleaned and re-examined.

10.0 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

10.1 ASME Section VIII Div 1 Appendix 6, ASME B31.3 – Process Piping 344.3.2

a. Any indication which has a dimension greater than 1/16"(1.5mm) is a relevant indication.
b. A linear indication is one having a length greater than three times of its width.
c. A rounded indication is one of circular or elliptical shape with a length equal to or less than three
times of its width.

All indication shall be interpreted. All relevant indication above shall be evaluated for acceptance. The
following acceptance shall apply unless other more restrictive standard are specified.

a. All relevant linear indications are unacceptable.

b. All relevant rounded indication greater than 3/16" are unacceptable.
c. Four or more relevant rounded indication in a line separated by 1/16" or less, edge to edge, is
unacceptable.

An indication of an imperfection may be larger than imperfection that causes it. However, the size of the
indication is the basis for acceptance/rejection.

The unacceptable defects shall be removed and repaired. Prior to making weld repairs, the area shall be
examined by suitable method to ensure it has been removed or reduced to an acceptably sized
imperfection.

Any indication which is believed to be non-relevant shall be regarded as an imperfection unless it is

shown by re-examination by same method or by the use of other NDE methods and/ or by surface
conditioning that no unacceptable imperfection is present.

10.2 AWS D1.1(6.10)

Welds that are subject to MT and PT, in addition to visual inspection, shall be evaluated on the basis of
the applicable requirements for visual inspection. The testing shall be performed in conformance with 6.14.4 or
6.14.5, whichever is applicable.
11.0 RE-EXAMINATION OF REPAIR AREAS

After repairs have been made, the repaired area shall be blended into the surrounding surface so as to avoid
sharp notches, crevices corners and re-examined by magnetic particle method and by all other approved methods
that were originally required for the affected area, except that, when the depth of the repair is less than the
radiographic sensitivity required, radiography may be omitted.

12.0 POST EXAMINATION CLEANING

Post examination cleaning shall be carried out as soon as possible, either by blowing compressed air or by
brushing the surface with wire brush using that process does not adversely affect the part.

13.0 PROCEDURE RE-QUALIFICATION

If there is a change in value of any of the essential variables specified in Appendix-I, procedure shall be re-
qualified and re-demonstrated to AI.

14.0 DEMAGNETIZATION

Demagnetization is required only if specified in purchase order, drawings or specification. This shall be performed
with AC yoke, by placing the poles on surface, moving them around the area and slowly withdrawing the yoke
while it is still energized. After demagnetization, residual magnetic field should not exceed 3 Gauss (240 Am -1)
anywhere in the piece absolute value, unless otherwise agreed upon with purchaser.

15.0 RECORDS

The results of magnetic particle examination shall be recorded on the magnetic particle examination report
shown below.
 ANNEXURE – I

VALUES OF ESSENTIAL & NON-ESSENTIAL VARIABLES FOR MAGNETIC PARTICLE EXAMINATION

Sr. Requirement NEV EV

1 Magnetizing Technique Yoke √
2 Magnetizing Current Type AC √
3 Magnetizing Current Ampere √
4 Surface Preparation As Weld / Ground √
5 Magnetic Particle Type Visible √
6 Magnetic Particle Form Wet & Dry √
7 Colour Red & Black √
Dry: Sprinkling with Air Bulb
8 Method of Particle Application √
Wet: Spray with Hand held sprayer
9 Method of Excess Particle Remover Dry & Wet: Light Air Stream from Bulb √
10 Performance Demonstration On Test Block √
11 Surface Temperature Below 600ᴼ C. √
Shape, size & extent of examination Any shape, size & extent as required by Client's
12 √
object Specification
13 Demagnetizing As per Client's specification √
14 Post Examination Cleaning Wire Brushing or compressed Air flowing √
15 Personnel Qualification Requirement As per PR-NDE-01 Rev- 0 √
Note:
1. EV: Essential Variable, NEV: Non-Essential Variable.
2. For any change in EV value, specified herein, procedure has to be requalified & re demonstrated to AI.
However, change in NEV values doesn't call for requalification of this Procedure.