Can Magnetic Particle Inspection be applied to non-ferromagnetic materials?

Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI) is specifically designed to detect surface and near-surface discontinuities in ferromagnetic materials. Ferromagnetic materials, such as iron, cobalt, and nickel, possess magnetic properties that allow them to be magnetized. During the MPI process, these materials can be magnetized, and when a magnetic field is applied, any defects will disrupt the magnetic field, allowing for the accumulation of magnetic particles at the defect locations. This makes the identification of flaws visible under UV light or white light, depending on the type of magnetic particles used.

Since non-ferromagnetic materials (like aluminum, copper, brass, and plastics) do not retain or exhibit magnetic properties, they cannot be effectively magnetized. Consequently, MPI cannot be employed for these materials, as they lack the necessary magnetic response to facilitate the detection of defects through this technique. Thus, stating that Magnetic Particle Inspection is only applicable to ferromagnetic materials is accurate and aligned with the fundamental principles of how MPI operates.