| Q. |
Why
Helium? |
| A. |
Helium
is a non-flammable, colorless, odorless gas. Its concentration
in the atmosphere is 5-50 ppm. Its small molecular size and
ease of quantitative detectability make it an ideal medium
for leak detection. |
| Q. |
Why
use a helium leak detector? |
| A. |
Helium
leak detection offers unparalleled sensitivity for finding leaks.
It is quantitative, giving an accurate measurement of the rate
of a leak, as opposed to the pass/fail results obtained with
a dye penetration or vacuum bubble test. |
| Q. |
How
sensitive is it? |
|
A. |
Helium
leak testers offer a sensitivity of 1 x 10-10cc/s.
Vacuum
Bubble/
Dye Penetration
1 to .0001 cc/s |
Pressure
Decay
1 to 1x10-5 cc/s |
Helium
Leak Detection
1 to 1x10-10cc/s |
|
Q. |
How
versatile is it? |
|
A. |
Helium
leak testers cover the sensitivity ranges of other methods and
up to a million times beyond.
| Sensitivity |
Std.
cc/sec |
Time
for 1 cc
to leak |
Bubble
Time
In Water |
|
|
1x10-1 |
10
seconds |
1.3
seconds |
|
1x10-2 |
100
seconds |
13.3
seconds |
|
1x10-3 |
16.7
minutes |
14.5
minutes |
Dye
Penetration
Test |
1x10-4 |
2.8
hours |
24
minutes |
Pressure
Decay Test |
1x10-5 |
27.8
hours |
4
hours |
Microbial
Ingress Limit |
1x10-6 |
11.6
days |
>
1 day |
|
1x10-7 |
3.9
months |
-------- |
|
1x10-8 |
3.2
years |
-------- |
Gas/Vapor
Protection |
1x10-9 |
32
years |
-------- |
Helium
Leak Test |
1x10-10 |
320
years |
-------- |
|
| Q. |
Who
uses helium leak detectors? |
| A. |
Our clients
include pharmaceutical companies such as Merck, Pfizer, Schering-Plough,
Johnson & Johnson, and Novartis. |
Frequently
Asked Questions
