Extended biodegradable dye penetrant composition

Abstract

A liquid dye penetrant composition for use in non-destructive testing of objects to locate cracks and other defects or flaws therein, said composition comprising (1) a nonionic surfactant, such as an oxyalkylated aliphatic alcohol, (2) a small amount of a dye soluble in the surfactant and (3) a substantial and preferably a major proportion, of an N-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone, preferably N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, as extender. Such composition is applied to the surface of an object containing cracks and other defects, water is applied to the surface of the object to remove excess liquid dye penetrant composition from the surface without removing such penetrant from such cracks and other defects, and with or without a developer, the surface of the object is viewed under suitable lighting conditions, e.g. ultraviolet or black light when the dye in the penetrant is a fluorescent dye to locate any cracks or other defects in the surface of the body as indicated by colored traces from the dye penetrant remaining in such cracks and other defects.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.