How can surface conditions impact the results of magnetic particle inspection?

Surface conditions play a crucial role in magnetic particle inspection (MPI) outcomes because contaminants such as oil, grease, rust, or paint can obstruct the visibility of defects on the surface being inspected. When these contaminants are present, they can act as barriers that prevent the magnetic particles from effectively adhering to the areas where flaws exist. As a result, critical defects may be missed, leading to inaccurate inspection results and potential failures.

Maintaining clean surfaces is essential for accurate and reliable MPI results, as any obstruction on the surface can hinder the detection of discontinuities like cracks or voids. Proper surface preparation is therefore essential to ensure that the inspection can detect all relevant defects.