Liquid Penetrant Testing Level 1 (PT-1) Practice Exam

Which of the following is a potential source of false indications in a test specimen?

1. High humidity

2. Pores in the metal

3. Pentrating oil on the specimen

4. Pentrant on the inspector's hands

The correct answer is: Pentrant on the inspector's hands

In the context of Liquid Penetrant Testing (PT), false indications can arise from various factors that interfere with the detection of actual flaws in a specimen. When considering the potential sources of false indications, the presence of penetrant on the inspector's hands is a notable concern. If an inspector's hands are contaminated with penetrant, it can be easily transferred to the specimen during handling or inspection. This transfer can create unintended indications that could be misinterpreted as valid flaws in the material being tested. False indications from this contamination can lead to unnecessary rework or, conversely, overlooking actual defects if the inspector mistakenly believes the indications are from the specimen itself. While other options like high humidity, pores in the metal, and oil contamination can also impact test results, they typically result in issues related to the test method or the surface of the specimen rather than direct contamination during the inspection process. High humidity can affect the effectiveness of the penetrant, but it does not specifically create false indications from the inspector's handling. Pores and defects in the metal are actual characteristics of the material being inspected, contributing to valid indications rather than false ones. Penetrating oil, if present on the specimen, can interfere with penetrant application but won't directly stem