Finding the Invisible: How Spark Testing Protects Your Glasslined Equipment
In the world of glass-lined equipment, the smallest flaw can lead to big problems. Tiny pinholes or cracks invisible to the naked eye can allow corrosive chemicals to reach the steel substrate, threatening your vessel’s integrity, product purity, and uptime. That’s where spark testing comes in.
What is Spark Testing?
Spark testing is a specialized high-voltage inspection technique used to detect microscopic flaws in glass, enamel, or porcelain linings. All tests were performed by a level 3 technician at Dow Corning. By applying a controlled electrical current, in our case, up to 6000 volts DC, we can pinpoint even the tiniest defects that traditional visual inspections might miss.
How It Works:
A technician slowly passes a probe over the glass surface. If the current finds a path through a pinhole or thin spot, it creates a visible spark, immediately showing where the flaw is. This allows precise spot repairs or additional testing to confirm complete coverage.
Why It Matters:
· Quality Assurance: Spark testing is an industry-standard final check for new linings and for verifying repairs.
· Prevents Corrosion: Even one pinhole can let aggressive acids or alkalis undercut the glass and corrode the steel beneath.
· Protects Product Purity: For pharma or food-grade processes, undetected flaws can cause contamination risks.
· Saves Downtime: Finding and fixing flaws before a vessel returns to service avoids costly emergency shutdowns later.
Part of a Proven Process:
At GTI, spark testing is just one part of our multi-layered quality assurance process. Every permanent repair undergoes spark testing alongside ultrasonic thickness checks, fluorescent dye penetrant inspection, and adhesion testing, all to make sure your equipment is ready for the toughest environments.
A glass lining is only as strong as its weakest point, and spark testing ensures you don’t have any. It’s one more way GTI’s Permanent Glasslined Repair Technology delivers the reliability you can trust.
