Reasons Why White Magnetic Paint is used in Magnaflux Testing

White contrast paint is used in Magnaflux testing to create a high contrast background for magnetic particle inspections. This non-destructive testing method is used to find out if there are unacceptable irregularities in surfaces of  ferromagnetic material. In this article, let us look at the reasons why white contrast paint is used in magnaflux testing.  

What is White Magnetic Paint?

The purpose of paint in magnetic testing is to facilitate identifying cracks, unevenness and other irregularities. The only difference in magnetic paint from regular paint is a key additive- tiny iron dust particles. When magnetic paint is applied to a surface, it works like a dark primer with small iron flecks. This creates a magnetic field and attracts magnets to the iron particles. 

White Magnetic Paint plays a similar role. Also known as magnetic whiteboard paint it can turn any smooth surface into a magnetic dry erase area. It is perhaps the most environmentally friendly paint in the industry. It is safe to apply, and comes with a 10-year guarantee.

Examples of White Magnetic Paint: 

Across the industry a number of whiteboard magnetic paints are used. Let us look at the most common examples:

• Smarter Surfaces Magnetic Whiteboard Paint: This paint can turn entire walls into magnetic dry erase surfaces. It's environmentally friendly, safe to apply, and comes with a 10-year guarantee.
• MagnetPaint For Pros: This water-based paint is enriched with iron powder and can be used to create notice boards and storage areas.
• Magnetize-It! Magnetic Paint & Primer: This ultra-premium magnetic paint is powered by nanotechnology and attracts magnets.
• WEpaint WHITE: This dry erase paint can convert any wall or surface into a whiteboard-like surface.
• IdeaPaint Magnetic Primer: This primer can be paired with IdeaPaint's White and Clear Dry Erase Paints to turn any wall into a magnetic, erasable surface. It can also be top coated with latex paint for a magnetic-only surface.

Why is White Magnetic Paint used in Magnaflux Testing?

White contrast paint is used in Magnaflux Testing to improve the contrast with mainly black particles. However, you can also use particles in other colors that may have stronger contrast with your base material. The reasons, white magnetic paint is used in magnaflux testing are: 

• White contrast paint improves visibility of magnetic particles. It is particularly useful when the color of the surface being inspected is close to the color of the dark magnetic particles. When used with black or red-brown magnetic particles under white light conditions, detection of particles is easy.
• White magnetic paint is very effective in secondary magnetic field attraction. Commonly, during magnetic particle inspection cases, the metal particles are spread out. They are across the surface of the product in either liquid or powder form. The secondary field  attracts these particles wherever there is defeat. Only with white magnetic paint creating a contrast, these particles become visible

Thus, white magnetic paint improves the probability of detection and sensitivity.

Conclusion

Magnaflux testing is used across different industries to identify and improve quality of products used in manufacturing. This type of testing is most effective when determining the ‘value of a component. It is used to test a component for its ability to be fit-for-service. 

An advantage of using Magnaflux are the variety of methods it offers manufacturers. It offers dry method visible magnetic inspection products so as to ease the testing process. The colored particles provide contrast against a colored background. Another option it offers is the black particle inks, to improve visibility on white contrast paint. A commonly used product is the Magnaflux's WCP-2 White Contrast Pain as it can be contrasted with all colors and enhance visible mag particles. This product is versatile and can be used in dry method and wet method magnetic particle inspection.