Electronic Resonance Analysis Technology (ERAT)
Hull Industries, Inc. has a proprietary technology to validate the quality of molded parts. The porosity, permeability and integrity of conductive and non-conductive thermoplastic, thermoset, and composite molded materials are determined utilizing a novel corona beam technology and electronic instrumentation in an open atmosphere for 100% real-time integrity testing. The corona beam is developed in an open-atmosphere and maintains a prescribed frequency through the use of a nitrogen cover gas. The corona beam discharge, maintained at a high positive voltage, forms from the holes or anomalies in the molded material. The anomaly is detected and analyzed in order to determine the presence of molecular sized voids or holes, as well as, other anomalies such as entrapped blisters, bubbles, foreign particles, uncatalyzed resin, and filler distribution. This process can also utilize an established set of standards to certify materials that require a well defined level of consistency. The testing process can be performed by the molder in-line with the molding process with very little regard to part orientation.
The ERAT (corona beam testing) has some distinct advantages: