NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING
AFC is CASA Part 145 Certified to perform Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), currently limited to Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI) and Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection (FPI). AFC has dedicated 150m² of floor space to it's NDT activities and is able to efficiently perform crack testing to Ferrous and Non-Ferrous materials. Whilst specialising in Aviation, AFC is able to support a variety of other industries including automotive, marine, theme parks, mining, etc. Please contact us if you would like discuss your requirements.
Magnetic Particle Inspection
Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI) is a versatile inspection technique that is used to test a variety of ferromagnetic metallic products such as welds on pressure vessels and structural steels, forgings such as shafts, castings, sheet, and tube.
MPI is suitable for detecting surface breaking and slightly subsurface discontinuities. The distance below the surface that a discontinuity may be detected depends upon the technique used, size, orientation and type of discontinuity.
Steel crank shafts and camshafts in motor vehicles are routinely inspected using fluorescent magnetic particle inspection as are welds in steel pressure vessels. The technique is quick but is limited to surface breaking or near surface discontinuities.
The objective of magnetic particle inspection is to ensure product and plant reliability by means of:
1. Detecting all surface breaking or near surface discontinuities within the limitations of the system used.
2. Obtaining information related to discontinuities, such as size, type and location.
3. Separating acceptable ·and unacceptable materials and components in accordance with predetermined standards, either International, National or in-house Standards.
Fluorescent Particle Inspection
Fluorescent Particle Inspection (FPI) (Also referred to as Liquid Penetrant Inspection or LPI) is a versatile inspection technique that is used to test a variety of metallic and non-metallic products such as welds on stainless steel pressure vessels, forgings such as valves, and non-ferrous castings. Aluminium structural welds are often subjected to penetrant inspection as are jet engine turbine blades, aluminium alloy wheels and aluminium alloy engine heads.
The test object is coated with a fluorescent dye solution. Excess dye is removed from the surface and a developer, which acts like a blotter, is applied which draws penetrant out of imperfections open to the surface. An ultraviolet lamp is used to make the "bleed out" fluoresce brightly. FPI is suitable for detecting surface breaking discontinuities only.
The objective of Fluorescent Particle Inspection, like all other NDT, is to ensure product and plant reliability by means of:
1. Detecting all surface breaking discontinuities.
2. Obtaining information related to discontinuities, such as size, type and location.
3. Separating acceptable and unacceptable materials and components in accordance with predetermined standards, either International, National or in-house Standards.
Paint stripping & part preparation
Before performing NDT, all surface coatings and contaminations, such as paint, grease and oil, need to be removed (anodising is acceptable). AFC is able to perform paint stripping and cleaning of parts if required. The customer will be responsible for re-painting these items on return.