Blogs

In the fast-paced world of industrial manufacturing, ensuring the quality and reliability of components is crucial for maintaining the safety and efficiency of operations. Among these components, Chevron seals, play a pivotal role in preventing leaks and maintaining the integrity of various mechanical systems. However, the challenges associated with inspecting these seals for quality and integrity are significant. Non-destructive testing methods, particularly Seal Scan Airborne Ultrasound Technology, offer a powerful solution for overcoming package integrity testing challenges, enabling precise and reliable inspection without compromising the seals' functionality.

Chevron Seal Quality Inspection Challenges

Traditional methods of inspecting chevron seals often involve destructive testing, such as cutting the seal open for visual inspection. This approach is time-consuming, wasteful, and provides limited information about the seal's overall integrity. Additionally, it doesn't allow for real-time quality control during the manufacturing process.

Other challenges in chevron seal quality inspection include:

• Detecting internal defects such as voids, inclusions, and delaminations.
• Assessing the seal's dimensional accuracy and conformity to specifications.
• Evaluating the seal material's properties and homogeneity.
• Ensuring the seal's ability to withstand operating conditions.

Seal Integrity Testing Using Seal Scan Technology

PTI's Seal-Scan® is an advanced non-destructive inspection system employing Airborne Ultrasonic (ABUS) technology to evaluate pouch seals offline. This semi-automatic system, featuring an x-y drive, is engineered for precise detection of seal defects, seal characterization, and material analysis. Utilizing the ASTM F3004 standard, Seal-Scan® provides deterministic, quantitative, and high-resolution assessments of seal quality and integrity. The testing process is non-invasive, requires no sample preparation, and delivers consistent results. Seal-Scan® also integrates sophisticated digital imaging software for comprehensive process control, facilitating detailed seal quality inspection . PTI offers multiple Seal-Scan® configurations tailored to accommodate various package specifications, testing sensitivities, and handling requirements.

Technology overview

Under this method, the pouch seal or package material is scanned between two focused ultrasonic sensors. Ultrasonic waves pass through single or multiple layers of bonded materials. Ultrasonic propagation through different mediums causes reflection of sound waves and reduces/eliminates signal strength. Seal Scan technology can detect different types of defects including leaking and non-leaking, process-related and random are detectable. This technology can produce Opto-Acoustic images as well as detailed statistical analysis by either of two scan modes (L-Scan and C-Scan). An L-Scan is a single linear scan along the X-axis of the seal that provides a line graph of seal integrity and simulates online inspection. C-Scan produces multiple scans (along X and Y-axis of seal area) that provide a high-resolution ultrasonic image of the seal structure. This technology can be integrated into a pouch production line via the Seal-Sensor for 100% on-line seal defect detection.

Benefits of Seal Scan Technology

• Deterministic inspection method producing quantitative results
• Works for any material and combinations, regardless of color transparency, print, surface finish and porosity
• Produces high resolution Opto-Acoustic image of seal
• Characterizes overall quality and uniformity of the seal