NDE Method for detcting voids in rubber tubes

[johnchrc]

I need a method for detcting air entrainment o dispersion problems in extruded rubber tubes. We have no way to check for voids without cutting samples into hudndrds of sections.

These bladder tubes are 66" long have 1.56 od and .230 wall thicknss. They are inflated like a balloon to 300-400% elongation. Any discontiniuty in wall will result in rupture.

Is there an NDE method that would work like an MRI.

 

[Demon3]

MRI would work and I think that ultrasound would too and probably cheaper.

 

[IRstuff]

Can't you fill to 100% and measure conductivity across the wall?

Or you could fill it with a dyed water and submerse and see if any dye leaks out.

Your two proposed approaches are all essentially manual, visual inspection approaches that would be very time and labor intensive.

TTFN

 

[Pud]

Surely you already have a test - inflate and if they rupture (which I assume is very visible!)- they fail. Or do they just leak,, in which case as irstuff mentioned and inflate submerged - although personally I would just watch for bubbles...

I would suggest getting the process corrected until you can inflate the tubes without rupture....as that seems to be the pass/fail criterion.


Cheers


Harry

 

[cnuk]

Sounds like a bladder element we make for an oilfield application. The best we've found so far is ultrasonic. We primarily use it for checking for consistent wall thickness but entrained air definitely shows up.