Astm E155 Porosity Levels Pdf Repack Info
With a proper repack, you can open the reference image on a calibrated NIST-traceable monitor. Use image software to do a side-by-side split-screen or transparency overlay. Some digital repacks include digital density values (in optical density) for each level, allowing quantitative comparison.
Q1: Is it legal to create an ASTM E155 porosity levels PDF repack?
A: Yes, if you own the original standard (physical or digital license) and use it internally. Distribution without permission is copyright infringement.
Q2: Can I use the PDF repack on an iPad for field inspection?
A: Yes, but you must ensure the screen is calibrated and free from glare. Many professionals use a secondary verified output device.
Q3: What is the difference between E155 and E505?
A: ASTM E505 covers reference radiographs for aluminum die castings only. E155 covers sand, permanent mold, and investment castings.
Q4: How often is ASTM E155 updated?
A: Typically every 5-7 years. The latest active version as of 2025 is ASTM E155-20. Ensure your repack matches the active revision.
Q5: Where can I download a free ASTM E155 PDF repack?
A: No legitimate free version exists because ASTM copyrights the material. However, many university libraries and corporate NDT labs provide access via subscription.
For further reading, refer to ASNT’s Handbook on Radiographic Testing or contact ASTM International directly regarding digital licensing for E155.
Meta Description: Need an ASTM E155 porosity levels PDF repack? This guide explains porosity Levels 1-5, how to use the reference radiographs, and why a digital repack improves NDT accuracy. Includes comparison tables and tips.
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standard provides reference radiographs used to evaluate the severity of discontinuities, such as porosity and shrinkage, in aluminum and magnesium castings. David Publishing Discontinuity & Porosity Levels ASTM E155 defines 8 levels of severity
for different types of defects, where Level 1 represents the highest quality (lowest severity) and Level 8 represents the highest degree of allowable discontinuity. These levels are categorized by casting thickness—typically
—and include the following porosity-related classifications: Gas Porosity (Round): Voids formed by trapped gas during solidification. Gas Porosity (Elongated): astm e155 porosity levels pdf repack
Non-spherical gas voids often appearing in clusters or strings. Shrinkage (Sponge): Porosity caused by the metal contracting as it cools. Foreign Material (Less/More Dense):
Entrapped debris that appears on radiographs differently based on its density relative to the alloy. Key Specifications for Porosity Levels
For specific defects like "Aluminum Foreign Material (More Dense)" at 3/4" thickness, the standard quantifies levels by area and diameter: m m squared the empty set m m squared the empty set m m squared the empty set m m squared the empty set m m squared the empty set
Note: For gas porosity specifically, quantification of flaw density becomes increasingly difficult for Levels 5 through 8 and often requires discussion between the manufacturer and the purchaser. Documentation & Purchasing Standard Content:
The standard is divided into Volume I (Aluminum and Magnesium) and Volume II (Magnesium specifically). Reference Radiographs:
To perform an inspection, a full set of entity plates (actual physical radiographs) must be purchased from ASTM International for visual comparison. Digital Standards:
For digital radiography (CR/DR), ASTM E2422 (Aluminum) or ASTM E2869 (Magnesium) digital reference images must be used instead of the physical plates. David Publishing acceptance criteria
commonly used by specific industries (e.g., aerospace) for these levels?
ASTM E155 Discontinuity Levels Guide | PDF | Materials - Scribd
Title: The Indispensable Visual Rosetta Stone: A Deep Dive into the ASTM E155 Porosity Repack
Rating: 4.8/5 (Highly Recommended for NDT Labs and Foundries) With a proper repack, you can open the
Reviewer Background: Level III NDT Consultant specializing in digital radiography and castings for aerospace & defense.
Date: October 26, 2023
The Short Verdict If you have ever argued with a supplier over whether a porosity indication is “minor scattered” or “severe cluster,” you know the value of a standard. The ASTM E155 document is the Bible of casting discontinuities. This specific repack of the Porosity Levels section (Volume I) takes a clumsy, expensive, museum-piece bound set of plastic plates and transforms it into a usable, modern workflow tool. It is not perfect (digital will never fully replace film), but for 95% of QA/QC applications, this repack is a game-changer.
What is this document (and the "Repack")? For the uninitiated, ASTM E155 provides the standard reference radiographs for porosity in aluminum (Series I) and magnesium (Series II) castings. The original format is a massive, spiral-bound folio containing actual radiographic film sheets or high-resolution digital images. The “repack” reviewed here refers to a third-party or internally consolidated digital PDF version that has been:
The Pros: The Reason You Buy This
1. Usability Over the Physical Set The physical ASTM E155 folio is notoriously unwieldy. It is large (roughly 11x17 inches), heavy, and the film plates scratch if you breathe on them. This repack lives on your laptop or tablet. During a source inspection, you can literally zoom into a 2mm pore cluster on a PDF and compare it side-by-side with your live DR image on a split screen. You cannot do that with a physical film plate under a magnifying lamp.
2. Clarity of Severity Levels The repack excels at displaying the gradient. For example:
3. The Searchability Factor Try searching the physical book for “Shadowgraph vs. Actual.” You can’t. In this PDF repack, Ctrl+F finds every mention of “interference,” “density,” and “aluminum alloy 356.” The appendix (which most people ignore) becomes usable.
4. Portability & Cost A new physical set of ASTM E155 costs upwards of $800-$1,200. A licensed digital repack (or even a well-done internal scan) is often a fraction of that. For a small job shop that only casts aluminum, buying the full physical set is overkill. Buying just the Porosity repack is efficient.
The Cons: The Elephant in the Radiograph
1. Digital Resolution Ceiling No matter how good the scan, a PDF is NOT a radiographic film. The original E155 plates have a film density of 2.0 to 4.0. On a standard 1080p monitor, you lose some of the subtle grain structure. You cannot see the mottle effect in the background of the radiograph as clearly as you can on a lightbox. For critical aerospace work (NADCAP audits), you still need the physical plates. The auditor will fail you if you only have the PDF. For further reading, refer to ASNT’s Handbook on
2. The "Repack" Quality Varies Wildly This review assumes a high-quality repack. I have seen versions where the gamma is blown out (making Class 1 porosity invisible) or the scaling is off (a 1-inch reference marker becomes 0.8 inches). Ensure your repack includes the original density step wedge and thickness gauge in the scan; otherwise, it is useless for actual comparison.
3. Missing the Physical Tactility This sounds old-fashioned, but comparing porosity requires tilting the film into the light. You can’t tilt a PDF. You lose the "specular reflection" that sometimes reveals a hairline crack next to a pore.
Specific Section Analysis (The Porosity Levels)
Who is this Repack For?
Final Verdict & Tips for Use
The ASTM E155 Porosity Levels PDF repack is a force multiplier. It does not replace the legal requirement of the physical standard, but it makes the application of the standard 10x faster.
Pro Tip: When you get this repack, do not print it on glossy paper. It ruins the contrast. Instead, load it onto a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with a true-tone display and a matte screen protector. Calibrate your screen to 5000K. Then, compare your live radiograph next to the PDF.
Cost vs. Value: If the repack costs less than $150, buy it immediately. If it costs more, save for the physical set. But for daily reference? This PDF will live on your desktop, while the $1,000 folio sits on a shelf collecting dust.
4.8 Stars. Deducted half a star because you still need a lightbox and film for true certification. But for practical, rapid, comparative porosity grading, this is the best tool available.
I’m unable to provide a meaningful review of "astm e155 porosity levels pdf repack" because this phrase suggests an unofficial or modified version of a copyrighted ASTM standard.
Here’s why you should be cautious:
This repack is intended for:
Yes. For steel castings, refer to ASTM E446. For copper alloys, refer to ASTM E272.