🔩 Penetrant testing at temperatures lower than +10 °C — water, frost and ice on the surface, penetration time twice as long, removal of excess penetrant with solvent instead of water, solvent-based developer from an aerosol kept at not less than 10 °C, PN-EN ISO 3452-6

Materials and NDT PN-EN ISO 3452-6

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN card, in full (our translation): "Requirements for penetrant testing are specified, particularly for applications at low temperatures (lower than +10 degrees C), as well as a technique for qualifying suitable penetrant materials" (on the card without a full stop at the end). We have a sample of ISO 3452-6:2008 (first edition, corrected version) from the cover to subclause 4.2.4 (page 3).

ACCORDING TO THE 2008 EDITION (foreword, introduction, Clauses 1–4.2.4). The standard was prepared by CEN/TC 138 "Non-destructive testing" in collaboration with ISO/TC 135/SC 2 "Surface methods" (Vienna Agreement). The ISO 3452 series: part 1 — general principles, 2 — testing of penetrant materials, 3 — reference test blocks, 4 — equipment, 5 — testing at temperatures higher than 50 °C, 6 — testing at temperatures lower than 10 °C. The corrected version replaced, among other things, the reference to EN 571-1 in the introduction by a reference to ISO 3452-1 and turned items 4.1 c) and d) into requirements. Introduction: temperatures below 10 °C may change the properties of penetrant materials; the use and testing of materials in the range from 10 °C to 50 °C are the subject of ISO 3452-1 and ISO 3452-2; the standard introduces a link between process times and the working temperature and recommends that the product families be assigned to process parameters in written instructions; materials qualified for normal temperatures may sometimes also be suitable for lower ones. Scope (Clause 1): specific requirements for testing at temperatures lower than +10 °C and a method for qualifying the materials; the standard applies only to materials qualified for the given temperature range and used according to the manufacturer's instructions. Principles (Clause 3): the general principles of ISO 3452-1 apply; the qualification tests are performed by the manufacturer — when used in the stated range no further tests on site are needed; possible problems: moisture and even ice on the test object, slower evaporation of solvents and developers, poorer pressure and spray quality from aerosols, precipitation of some penetrants; reference blocks and test panels must not be cooled in a freezer, because moisture condenses on the cold parts — the tests are carried out under "real conditions" or in a climatic chamber; higher viscosity is not a hindrance, because the capillary effect is stronger; the personnel are certified (e.g. ISO 9712, EN 473) and aware of the limitations of testing at low temperatures. Procedure (Clause 4): the surface and the discontinuities free from contamination; excess penetrant is removed with a clean lint-free cloth and a remover according to the manufacturer — water should be avoided; the non-aqueous wet developer is sprayed onto the object, bearing in mind that the solvent evaporates much more slowly than usual; viewing conditions according to ISO 3059. In the range from +10 °C to −5 °C the main problem is water (moisture, frost, ice): the surface is heated for a few minutes or a volatile water-soluble solvent is used (e.g. acetone, isopropyl alcohol — ordinary hydrocarbon degreasers do not remove water) and a few minutes are allowed, without letting moisture condense again; below −5 °C frost and ice are checked for and removed. A penetration time twice as long as in the range 10–50 °C is recommended, because water in the discontinuities hinders penetration. Even a water-washable penetrant is better removed with solvent: first with a dry cloth, then with one slightly moistened with solvent, finally with a dry one, and a few minutes are allowed. Developer: preferably solvent-based, from an aerosol kept at a temperature of not less than 10 °C, so that it gives a thin, even layer.

STATUS (state of the card on 30 September 2026). The card of PN-EN ISO 3452-6:2009 (English version) has no "Withdrawn" header — the standard is CURRENT: published 02-04-2009, 8 pages, price group D, Sector of Basic Issues and Management Systems, KT 7 for Non-destructive Testing, ICS 19.100, "Introduces: EN ISO 3452-6:2008 [IDT], ISO 3452-6:2008 [IDT]". PKN search for "PN-EN ISO 3452-6" (30 September 2026): the English and German versions of 2009, without labels.

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation-scope database, data loaded up to 17 September 2026, read on 30 September 2026). 10 records at 10 laboratories; in the current PCA documents — 10 cells and 11 notations of the number (AB 1844 gives PN-EN ISO 3452-6:2009-04 and EN ISO 3452-6:2008 side by side). The notation "PN-EN ISO 3452-6:2009" — 9 laboratories, "PN-EN ISO 3452-6:2009-04" — AB 1844. All entries also include PN-EN ISO 3452-1:2021-12 (at AB 1782 additionally 2013-08); AB 1782, AB 1888, AB 1898 and AB 1927 — PN-EN ISO 3452-5:2009 (testing at temperatures higher than 50 °C), and AB 1646, AB 1782 and AB 1805 — ASME Section V Article 6 (editions 2019, 2023 or 2025). The "Laboratories" tab looks for notations that BEGIN with "PN-EN ISO 3452-6" and will show 9 laboratories — it will not show AB 1646, whose string in the copy begins with "PN-EN ISO 3452-1:2021-12 PN-EN ISO 3452-6…"; checked with the tab's query on the production server labcoda.pl on 30 September 2026: 9 (under "EN ISO 3452-6" — 1). Current scopes on the PCA website (read on 30 September 2026, issues from 21.12.2023 to 07.09.2026): the entries with this standard are not suspended (AB 1700 has another part of its scope suspended).

QUANTITY AND ITEMS. Surface (external) discontinuities open to the tested surface, penetrant method — all. Items: metallic products and materials — 6 laboratories (at AB 1700 and AB 1844 including welded joints), welded joints of metallic materials — AB 1805, AB 1927, AB 1940, AB 1969. No entry gives a temperature range.

ALONGSIDE THIS STANDARD. The general principles of penetrant testing according to PN-EN ISO 3452-1 (in each of these entries) and penetrant testing of forgings according to PN-EN 10228-2 have separate entries in the Knowledge Base, as does the qualification of personnel according to PN-EN ISO 9712.

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. First — water: in the range from +10 °C to −5 °C water, frost or ice in the discontinuities block the penetrant; an ordinary hydrocarbon degreaser does not remove water. Second — time: a penetration time as at 10–50 °C is too short — the standard recommends twice as long. Third — washing with water: at low temperature water should be avoided even with a water-washable penetrant. Fourth — developer: the solvent evaporates much more slowly; too short an evaporation gives blurred indications, and a cold aerosol an uneven layer. Fifth — materials: the standard covers only materials qualified for the given temperature range — a product family qualified for 10–50 °C is not automatically approved below 10 °C. Sixth — reference blocks: a test panel cooled in a freezer and taken into a warmer room is covered with moisture — the check of the product family gives an unreliable result.

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. The sample ends at subclause 4.2.4: we do not give the rest of the procedure (including viewing and evaluation of indications), the method for qualifying penetrant materials (Clause 5) or the requirements for the report.

Method principle

Penetrant testing at temperatures lower than +10 °C is carried out according to the general principles of ISO 3452-1 with specific requirements: water, frost and ice are removed from the surface, the penetration time is extended (twice as long is recommended), excess penetrant is removed with solvent instead of water, and a solvent-based developer is applied from an aerosol kept at not less than 10 °C, allowing time for the slower evaporation of the solvent. Only materials qualified for the given temperature range are used.

Applications

• Metallic products and materials and welded joints tested with penetrants at low temperature — in the scopes of 10 laboratories, always together with PN-EN ISO 3452-1
• Testing in the field and on structures in winter — according to the scope on the PKN card and the introduction of the standard

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN ISO 3452-6:2009 (wersja angielska; EN ISO 3452-6:2008, ISO 3452-6:2008 IDT)

Title (PL)

Badania nieniszczące — Badania penetracyjne — Część 6: Badania penetracyjne w temperaturach niższych niż 10 stopni C

Title (EN)

Non-destructive testing — Penetrant testing — Part 6: Penetrant testing at temperatures lower than 10 °C

Step-by-step procedure

1. Surface preparation

   Remove contamination; in the range +10 °C to −5 °C remove water (heating or a volatile water-soluble solvent), below −5 °C — frost and ice. PN-EN ISO 3452-6:2009 current (state of the card on 30 September 2026).

2. Penetrant

   Apply by any convenient means (aerosol at sufficient pressure); penetration time — twice as long as at 10–50 °C is recommended.

3. Removal of excess

   Dry cloth, then one slightly moistened with solvent, finally a dry one; allow a few minutes — avoid water.

4. Development

   Solvent-based developer from an aerosol kept at not less than 10 °C, thin even layer; allow for the slower evaporation of the solvent.

5. Viewing and evaluation

   Viewing conditions according to ISO 3059; the rest of the procedure and the evaluation are NOT GIVEN.

Required equipment and apparatus

Reagents, media and consumables

Health and safety (OHS)

• When heating the object, the materials or the surroundings, vapours and spray must not come into contact with flames or hot surfaces; clothing and gloves protecting against contact with very cold parts (3.3)
• SUBSTANTIVE NOTE: the standard applies only to materials qualified for the given temperature range; reference blocks are not cooled in a freezer — condensation of moisture falsifies the check

Frequently asked questions