Pressure Decay Leak Testing

Pressure Decay leak testing is a non-destructive testing leak method used to detect leaks in a wide range of products, from automotive parts, medical devices, to industrial components. This technology involves pressurizing a sealed part or system and then monitoring the change in pressure over time with a precision pressure transducer. If the pressure drops, it indicates the presence of a leak.

How It Works

1. Connecting/Sealing the Component: The part being tested must be sealed so the test gas can be delivered to the inside of the device under test (DUT).
2. Fill Step: The component or system is pressurized with a gas (usually air or nitrogen) by turning on the Fill Valve.  A precision pressure regulator is set to determine the setpoint pressure delivered to the device under test.
3. Stabilization Step:  After reaching the target pressure an isolation valve closes to trap the pressurized gas in the device under test.  The test pressure is allowed to stabilize which allows for stretching/cooling of the device under test.
4. Test Step (Decay Monitoring): After stabilization, the system's pressure is monitored over a specified time period. A precision pressure transducer monitors the pressure decay rate and logs the pressure curve that occurs. If a leak exists, gas escapes from the device under test, causing a detectable drop in pressure.
5. Analysis and Reporting:   The system’s pressure drop is analyzed. If the pressure decays at a rate above a predefined threshold, the component is deemed defective. A pass or fail determination is then made based on the test results.

Key Benefits

• Non-Destructive: Pressure decay testing does not alter or damage the component, making it ideal for sensitive or expensive parts.
• Simple and Fast: The process is relatively quick, with results often available in just a few seconds to minutes, depending on the size of the part being tested and the size of leak that you are trying to detect.
• High Sensitivity: This method is sensitive enough to detect small leaks, which is crucial in applications where even tiny leaks can compromise performance or safety.
• Versatile: Pressure decay leak testing is widely used across industries such as aerospace, automotive, electronics, medical devices, and more. It’s suitable for testing a wide variety of shapes and sizes, from small individual components to large assemblies.
• Quantitative Results: The test provides numerical data, making it easy to determine the severity of leaks and to make precise decisions about part integrity.  Results can be displayed as an actual pressure loss or a volumetric leak rate.

Applications

• Automotive Industry: Testing fuel delivery systems, exhaust systems, lighting components, brake systems, sensors, radiators, batteries and drive train components for leaks.
• Medical Devices: Verifying the integrity of drug delivery systems, surgical instruments, ventilators, catheters, and other medical equipment.
• Consumer Goods: Leak testing for electronics, vacuum-sealed packages, or components requiring airtight seals.
• Aerospace: Ensuring that critical components like hydraulic systems, valves, sensors, and pressure vessels are leak-free.

Pressure decay is the most widely used technique in leak testing, for good reason. It's a relatively safe, economical, reliable and repeatable leak testing method for a large variety of applications. Many industries use pressure decay leak testing and all LeakMaster Air Leak Detection Equipment can utilize pressure decay leak testing.
 
The choice of which leak tester or leak testing method works best for your application is based on many factors including the size and elasticity of the product, the testing pressure, the reject leak rate, and the required part-to-part production cycle time.
 
No matter what the application, you can count on LeakMaster’s expertise to guide you to the optimal leak tester.  From our configurable Stealth modules and compact Defender to our flagship Guardian and super-fast UltraFlow V3 Series leak detectors, LeakMaster will provide great value and confidence across our entire lineup of cutting-edge products.

LeakMaster’s pressure decay leak testing instruments are a reliable, accurate, cost-effective, and efficient method for detecting leaks in various industries. The pressure decay method is non-destructive, coupled with its ability to provide quick, quantitative results, making it a popular choice for quality control and assurance in manufacturing. Whether it’s ensuring the integrity of an automotive part or verifying the fluid tightness of a medical device, LeakMaster’s pressure decay leak testing offers a high level of precision and sensitivity that contributes significantly to product quality and safety.

Contact Us

For more information or to discuss your leak testing application, please see our Contact Us page to get in touch with one of our leak testing specialists.