Countless businesses rely upon air leak testing for their manufacturing strategies, but a lot of business leaders don’t realize just how many different leak testing methods and technologies are available to them.
That’s why we’ve teamed up with the air leak testing specialists over at Zaxis to develop this list of five common types of leak testing—and to explain when businesses should use them.
So, check out the below sections to see which air leak testing methods are best for your team’s manufacturing purposes!
Dunk Leak Testing
Dunk leak testing is by far the most basic type of leak testing, and it includes submerging a product or component into water to check for leaks. This test is also commonly referred to as bubble testing, because recognizing bubbles during this test is often a clear sign that a leak is present.
The benefits of this leak testing are that it’s incredibly easy and cost-effective as compared to some more tech-savvy testing methods. The drawbacks of dunk leak testing are that this method isn’t precise, and it’s also dependent upon operator knowledge and recognition. You’ll likely be able to recognize a leak and guess its leak rate based upon bubble frequency and size, but this of course is far from an exact metric.
So if your business requires more precise leak rate measurements, you’ll likely be better off with some of the below air leak testing methods!
Pressure Decay Leak Testing
Pressure decay leak testing is another very popular type of testing method, and it entails pressurizing an assembly or part and isolating it for a measured period of time. The test will measure the amount of pressure that leaves the part, which provides a precise flow rate. A lot of businesses will utilize pressure decay testing to accurately detect small, non-water leaks.
The benefits of pressure decay leak testing are that it’s incredibly accurate and fast, and this test can be calibrated in a variety of ways to be tailored toward a company’s unique testing needs. The drawbacks of this testing are that it doesn’t identify the exact source of a leak, and this test can sometimes be slowed down when testing large parts and components.
Vacuum Decay Leak Testing
Vacuum decay leak testing is similar to pressure decay testing, except this test will take air out of a part or assembly in order to detect potential leaks. This type of test is commonly used when businesses are air leak testing parts that could potentially have external source leaks—which includes products like pipes and many other products that are susceptible to outdoor elements.
Some of the benefits of vacuum decay leak testing are that it’s a very sensitive type of test that provides precise results. This type of testing is less susceptible to changing environmental conditions, so it’s a good option when businesses have to deal with temperature control issues at their manufacturing facilities.
Some of the drawbacks of this testing method are that it can sometimes be impacted by issues like surface outgassing, liquid evaporation and reduced testing sensitivity.
Functional Flow & Mass Flow Leak Testing
Mass flow leak testing and functional flow leak testing are two similar test types that utilize pressurized air to measure flow rates that are indicative of internal leaks. This essentially means that this type of leak testing can not only detect leaks, but it can also detect air pathway blockages as well.
Some of the benefits of mass flow testing are that it’s a great option for detecting rather large leaks. It’s also a good option for detecting blockages and restrictions in part channels, which makes it a good option for testing products like tubes and medical catheters.
Some of the drawbacks of this testing method are that it’s usually too sensitive to accurately detect small leaks. Other factors like test air cleanliness can impact this type of testing as well.
Tracer Gas Leak Testing
If your business is testing systems and parts with very low leak rates, you could utilize tracer gas leak testing options that include the following:
- Nitrogen purge leak testing
- Sniff leak testing
- Hard vacuum helium mass spec leak testing
- Accumulation leak testing
Some of the benefits of this leak testing method are that it’s not impacted by pressure changes or temperature changes that occur within the component or part that’s being tested. This means that tracer gas leak testing is a good option when businesses need to test multiple parts that have different internal temperatures.
Reach Out ToZaxis When Your Business Needs State-Of-The-Art Air Leak Testing!
Businesses in many industries rely upon air leak testing to ensure the functionality and durability of their products, and it’s important for business leaders to understand what their best leak testing options are.
This of course is a lot easier said than done, which is why business teams need to partner up with air leak testing specialists like the industry experts at Utah-based Zaxis.
You can speak directly with the Zaxis specialists today when you check out their website by clicking on the link at the top of this article!