Text: [NDT] Liquid penetrant testing is probably the most widely used NDT method. The test object or material is coated with a visible or fluorescent dye solution. The excess dye is removed from the surface, and then a developer is applied. The developer acts like a blotter and draws penetrant out of imperfections which open to the surface. With visible dyes, the vivid color contrast between the penetrant and the developer makes the "bleedout" easy to see. With fluorescent dyes, an ultraviolet lamp is used to make the "bleedout" fluoresce brightly, thus allowing the imperfection to be seen readily.

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