Which statement about removing excess penetrant is true?

Which statement about removing excess penetrant is true?

• A. Removing excess penetrant must not remove penetrant from discontinuities.
• B. All penetrant on the surface should be removed.
• C. A dry cloth is the only accepted method for removal.
• D. Penetrant should never be removed from the surface.

Answer: (A)

Removing excess penetrant focuses on cleaning the surface while keeping penetrant that has entered discontinuities. The penetrant trapped in flaws is what the developer will draw to the surface to form a visible indication, so you must wipe or wash away only the surface residue without disturbing penetrant inside defects. If penetrant is removed from discontinuities, the defect indication can be lost, making flaws undetectable. The removal method depends on the penetrant system (dry wipe, solvent wipe, or water wash), not a single universal method, and penetrant should not be left on the surface indefinitely.

Removing excess penetrant focuses on cleaning the surface while keeping penetrant that has entered discontinuities. The penetrant trapped in flaws is what the developer will draw to the surface to form a visible indication, so you must wipe or wash away only the surface residue without disturbing penetrant inside defects. If penetrant is removed from discontinuities, the defect indication can be lost, making flaws undetectable. The removal method depends on the penetrant system (dry wipe, solvent wipe, or water wash), not a single universal method, and penetrant should not be left on the surface indefinitely.