Non-saturated High-Temperature Steam Sterilization Test Chamber

Non-Saturated High-Temperature Steam Test Chamber (HAST, Highly Accelerated Stress Test Chamber) is a device that simulates high temperature, high humidity, and high-pressure environments to conduct accelerated aging tests on materials or products. Below is a detailed introduction:

Its core principles include:

Pressure-enhanced penetration: By increasing the pressure inside the chamber (typically 0.2–3 kg/cm²), the water vapor pressure far exceeds the partial vapor pressure inside the sample, accelerating moisture penetration into the sample.

Temperature-accelerated reactions: The temperature range is typically 100°C–150°C, with humidity near saturation (80%–100% RH), significantly accelerating material aging reactions (such as corrosion and insulation degradation).

Time compression effect: Traditional high-temperature and high-humidity tests (e.g., 85°C/85% RH) require 1,000 hours, while HAST completes the same in just 96–100 hours, improving efficiency by over 10 times.

Equipment Structure and Technical Features

Inner chamber design:

Cylindrical stainless steel inner chamber: Complies with industrial safety container standards, prevents condensation dripping, and avoids direct impact of latent heat from steam on test samples. For example, a certain brand’s test chamber has an inner chamber size of Φ500×650 mm, made of SUS304 stainless steel plate with fully welded construction.

Air-tightness optimization: Utilizes a reverse-pressure packing design where higher pressure enhances sealing, extending service life. Some devices are equipped with safety mechanisms for misoperation, such as preventing startup if the door is not properly closed.

Control system:

High-precision temperature control: Error of ±0.1°C (e.g., SHIMAX LED dual-display temperature controller) or ±0.5°C (industry average), ensuring test stability.

Real-time pressure monitoring: Pressure values are directly read via sensors instead of being calculated from saturated vapor pressure tables, providing more accurate data.

Intelligent timing function: LED digital timers start counting only after the temperature reaches the set value, avoiding errors during the preheating phase. For example, a certain device takes about 40 minutes to heat from room temperature to 145°C.

Safety protection mechanisms:

Multiple protections: Include automatic overpressure exhaust (venting pressure when it exceeds the maximum working value), overtemperature alarm and power cutoff (sounding an alarm and automatically cutting off heating power when temperature is too high), and burn-resistant materials.

Water shortage protection: Fully automatic water replenishment system ensures test continuity and prevents dry firing damage. For example, Ruikai Instrument Equipment is equipped with a 200L large-capacity water tank, supporting continuous testing for 200 hours.

Innovative technologies:

Drying design: Electric heating drying system ensures the test area remains dry, avoiding residual moisture affecting results.

Remote monitoring: Some models support IoT technology for remote data logging and equipment maintenance.

Core Performance Parameters

Parameter Typical Range (Aipu)

Temperature range 100°C–150°C 105°C–132°C

Humidity range 80%–100% RH 80%–100% RH (adjustable)

Pressure range 0.2–3 kg/cm² 0–2 kg/cm² (expandable to 4 kg/cm²)

Temperature fluctuation ≤±1°C ≤±0.5°C

Humidity fluctuation ≤±5% RH ≤±1.5% RH

Heating time Room temperature→145°C ≈40 minutes ≤30 minutes (non-linear no-load)

Continuous operation time ≥96 hours ≥200 hours (large-capacity water tank + automatic water replenishment)

IV. Typical Application Scenarios

Electronics industry:

PCB and chip testing: Rapidly induces failure modes such as delamination, cracking, and short circuits (e.g., "popcorn effect"). For example, Jinjian Laboratory uses HAST testing to provide reliability analysis reports for LED beads, assessing whether abnormalities like peeling or glue cracking occur after testing.

Connector seal testing: Evaluates changes in contact resistance under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions to ensure signal transmission stability.

Automotive industry:

Battery system testing: Simulates performance degradation of electric vehicle batteries under temperature and humidity conditions to optimize thermal management system design.

Sensor durability verification: Detects sensitivity drift of sensors under high-pressure environments to enhance product reliability.

Medical devices:

Aging tests for plastic components: Evaluates risks of material deformation and seal failure in infusion tubes, syringes, etc., under high temperature and humidity.

Aerospace:

Composite material performance verification: Tests mechanical performance degradation of materials like carbon fiber and glass fiber under environmental conditions.

V. Product Analysis

Taking Aipu Technology’s non-saturated high-temperature and high-pressure steam tester as an example:

Price range: Starting from 100,000 RMB (varies based on configuration).

Core advantages:

Extended operation: 200L large-capacity water tank supports continuous testing for 200 hours, reducing manual intervention.

Precise control: Temperature uniformity ±1.5°C, humidity uniformity ±3.0% RH, with strong data traceability.

Safety certifications: Complies with international standards such as GB/T10586 and MIL-STD810D, and is CE certified.

Non-Saturated High-Temperature Steam Test Chamber Selection Recommendations

Matching test requirements:

If testing deep-sea or high-altitude environments, prioritize models with pressure ranges expandable to 4 kg/cm².

If test samples are sensitive to humidity, choose devices with humidity fluctuation ≤±1.5% RH.

After-sales service:

Prioritize providers offering 2 years of free warranty and 24-hour response.

Confirm whether the manufacturer provides on-site installation, debugging, and operational training services.