magnetic inspection powder

magnetic inspection powder

[mag′ned·ik in′spek·shən ‚pau̇d·ər] (metallurgy) A dry powder containing ferromagnetic particles colored gray, black, or red for contrast, designed to be dusted on metal parts being inspected by a magnetic inspection machine; the ferrous powder accumulates in any surface cracks (flaws) by magnetic attraction, thereby permitting the cracks to be readily discerned; if the ferrous particles are fluorescent, surface cracks will be brilliantly illuminated under black light.