What does 'penetration time' refer to in the context of penetrant testing?

In the context of penetrant testing, 'penetration time' specifically refers to the duration allowed for the penetrant to infiltrate any discontinuities, such as cracks or voids, present in the material being tested. This is a critical aspect of the testing process, as adequate time must be given for the penetrant to seep into any potential flaws to ensure that they can be accurately detected in subsequent steps.

This time is essential for achieving reliable results; insufficient penetration time may lead to false negatives, where the test detects no flaws even though they are present. Therefore, ensuring the correct penetration time is vital for the accuracy and reliability of the penetrant testing method.