If
you are in the manufacturing sector or in some way related to Plastic Machinery, in that case, you must
already have a huge requirement for leak testing to ensure that appliances or
machinery you use in the course of the manufacturing perform at their optimal
capacity.
For those who need to know about leak testing and its applications, here’s a quick take on what essentially is leak testing and what are the applications where it is prominently used to fix leaking concerns.
Leak
testing is the classic example of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT). In this,
the inspectors are required to check for leaks and inconsistencies in an
appliance or any other object. The inconsistency present could result from a
hole, crack, or some other flaw that becomes the cause of obstruction in its
normal functioning.
Undertaking various methods, the inspectors then take up the job of eliminating
the leaking defect to bring the machine or an appliance in the perfect order.
Several advanced-equipments is used to fix the flaws, regulating the effective
performance of the instruments.
About its applications, here’s the list of industries that require its
application for maintenance or otherwise.
Packaging Industry
The packaging is an umbrella term that further includes many industries incorporating the
use of leak testing. To name a few, food packaging, cosmetic packaging, food
sachets, ink cartridges, or any other industry that involves leaks defects come
under its purview and require the assurance of leak testing to avoid leaks and
spillage.
As far as leak testing is concerned, the packaging industry ensures
air-tightness to prevent leaks from the packed items. A special kind of
technology known as the Differential Pressure Decay Test is run to check for leaks
and inconsistencies in the packed articles. In this method, the pressure change
of an object becomes the basis for identifying if there’s a specific
discharge or outflow from the packed content.
Medical Industry
From drip chambers to endoscopes and ventilators to medical bags, there is a
massive requirement for leak testing in the medical industry, where it’s a
much-needed course of action to ensure the proper functioning of medical
appliances.
Depending upon the severity of the purpose for which the medical appliances are
put to use, the manufacturer must get the lead testing done to ensure their
optimal functionality. Even the slightest error of the leaks of liquids or
gasses from the containers could become a cause of concern for the manufacturers
who supplied them in the first place. It is where leak testing plays its role
and ensures the proper functioning of the instrument while eliminating the
chances of such errors.
Automotive Industry
If there’s one industry with a vast and consistent
requirement for leak testing, it is the automotive industry. The list of items
covered in the category of passing through the leak testing is endless. To have
a detailed view, starting from the A/C system to the brake system, almost every
component of a vehicle is such that it requires the scanning of leak testing.
High-grade tools and equipment are made to test the components like power
control units, battery pouches, motor valves, air conditioning systems etc., to
ensure that flawless parts are manufactured and further lined up for their
final assembly.
Consumer Appliances
Consumer
appliances involve all the daily-use appliances we employ to perform our
routine functions- for instance, Refrigerators, HVAC, Sensors, Coffee Makers,
Washing Machines, etc.
The methods widely used to conduct leak testing for certain appliances include
Pressure Decay and Mass Flow Testing, which detect the errors in their
functioning. In such instances, running proper leak testing on appliances
becomes more than crucial. Experiencing a lag in the testing procedure can lead
to environmental contamination and immediate safety concerns for the people
using those appliances.
Electronics
It
might be indiscernible but the electronics that claim to be waterproof or dust-resistant get
their assurance from leak testing.
Ingress Protection Testing is what confirms the feature component of being
water and dirt resistant while settling it for such claims. With this, testing
your electronics for their waterproof ability before it arrives in the
marketplace is not only good for the brand’s credibility but provides the
manufacturer with a valid IP Certification for such features that stands as
legitimate proof of his claims.