Leak Testing

Leak testing allows the location and detection of unintended leaks through cracks, pores, holes and other material flaws in pressurized or evacuated systems and components. This type of testing is often used on a go, no-go basis but measurements of fluid leakage are often carried out.

Leak testing has the purpose of assessing the operational reliability of a component, i.e. preventing environment contamination, interference with the functioning of a system, or causing premature failure of systems under pressure or vacuum.

A selection of leak test methods is available, from gaseous tracer to infrared gaseous methods, to bubble emission techniques. Selection of the optimal technique for leakage measurements is based on the accessibility of the test component surfaces: open units and sealed units, accessible on both sides of the pressure boundaries or on the external surface, respectively.

Leak detection using bubble emission techniques are probably the easiest and most widely applied. A pressure differential is created across a leak and the formation of bubbles in a liquid medium in the low pressure side of the leak is observed. Leaks in sealed containers are usually inspected by immersion. However, for test pieces that cannot be immersed easily, liquid film techniques are preferred. For systems that cannot be pressurized or where only one side is available, a vacuum chamber technique is required.

Bess MTI offers a variety of leak tests. Technique selection is dependent on application, size, physical configuration and leakage sensitivity. These tests are performed by experienced operators, using the following instrumentation:

Bess MTI also provides casting impregnation services with the purpose of preventing liquid or gas leaking. In addition, and accumulation of chemicals, cleaning materials in castings and sintered powder particle contamination prior to final surface treatment processes such as, but not limited to, plating.