Quality control is a key asset for any manufacturer but particularly in the petrochemical industry where component failure can have serious results. Yet how do you ensure how components will perform and how can the uniformity of products be ensured?

Testing samples to destruction will give an overall indicator of how the design of a particular component will perform when exposed to high levels of stress. This confirms if the materials used are up to the task or if there is any weakness in the design. For example, if flanged joints or pipe fittings will perform as required when in actual use.

However, whilst this type of testing may be used to confirm the design of a component it is no use for ensuring the quality of the production run of components. For this it is necessary to use a test that does not actually break the component.

At Chemipetro we use a number of different techniques to ensure the quality of the pipe and pipe fittings we manufacture. One such technique is Liquid Penetrant Inspection.

Here the sample is washed with a liquid containing a special dye and left to soak. The excess material is then removed and a developer applied. When exposed to a high intensity or ultra-violet light, cracks or flaws in the material are visible. The advantage of this system is that it is quick to carry out and can be applied to no ferrous material as well.

These test procedure ensures that product quality is not something that is left to chance but can be assured across the product range.