Products & Services
Classification
Penetrant Classification System
| Penetrants | Type 1 | Fluorescent Dye |
| Type 2 | Visible (Red) Dye | |
| Removal Method | Method A | Water Washable |
| Method B | Post Emulsifiable, lipophilic (oil base) | |
| Method C | Solvent | |
| Method D | Post Emulsifiable, hydrophilic (water base) | |
| Removers | Class 1 | Halogenated (non-flammable) |
| Class 2 | Nonhalogenated (flammable) | |
| Class 3 | Special Application | |
| Developers | Form a | Dry Powder |
| Form b | Water Soluble | |
| Form c | Water Suspendable | |
| Form d | Nonaqueous Type 1 Fluorescent (solvent based) | |
| Form e | Nonaqueous Type 2 Visible (solvent based) | |
| Form f | Special Application | |
| Fluorescent Sensitivity* | Level 1/2 | Ultra Low |
| Level 1 | Low | |
| Level 2 | Medium | |
| Level 3 | High | |
| Level 4 | Ultra High |
* No sensitivity level classification exists for Type 2 Visible Penetrants
Specifications: The current specification, AMS-2644 and its QPL-AMS-2644-1, establish the penetrant system classification scheme. The scheme ranks fluorescent penetrants in terms of their sensitivity and removal properties. It also classifies developers and removers. Various classes of penetrants are approved for different inspection requirements. Penetrant users should assure that inspection procedures meet production requirements.
Consultation: It is important that a penetrant system match production requirements, not only to assure that specifications are met, but also to assure that sensitivity levels and inspection methods meet inspection criteria. Some applications have very stringent criteria calling for the highest sensitivity, while others accept lower levels of sensitivity. When penetrant systems are not appropriately matched to inspection criteria, unnecessarily high penetrant materials costs as well as the unnecessary rejection of parts can result. Or worse, parts can be accepted that otherwise should have been rejected, leading to parts failure, or recall. Sherwin Incorporated welcomes the opportunity to help users choose the appropriate combination of penetrant materials.