Which statement regarding surface contaminants on a penetrant test specimen is false?

The assertion that contaminants may retain the penetrant and increase inspection sensitivity is misleading. In fact, surface contaminants generally have a negative impact on the performance and reliability of penetrant tests.

Penetrant testing is designed to identify surface-breaking defects by applying a liquid penetrant to the surface of a material, allowing it to seep into any discontinuities. For this testing method to work effectively, the surface must be clean and free from contaminants, as these can hinder the penetrant's ability to enter defects.

When there are surface contaminants, they can create a barrier that prevents the penetrant from properly interacting with the defect, leading to missed indications of flaws. Therefore, while certain surface conditions may seem beneficial, in reality, contaminants typically disrupt the testing process rather than enhancing it.