IMPCO announces expanded on-site services for permanently sealing and repairing large castings and other parts. For large leaking parts or components, IMPCO provides the engineering, the technical personnel, and all the necessary materials and equipment to the parts’ site when its size or location makes it impractical to transport it to an IMPCO Service Center. On a contract basis with virtually no limitations on size, weight, or wall thickness, the parts will be inspected, sealed, and leak-tested. The result is a sealed part returned to productive use quickly and economically, with a minimum of downtime or other adverse impact.

During the sealing process, IMPCO uses a variety of materials. In the initial phase of the operation, IMPCO’s macro porosity sealing resin is often applied to the known leak areas. Subsequently, through various means, IMPCO’s porosity sealing materials are introduced into the porosity under pressure. The choice of impregnant is key, and IMPCO has the broad, diversified range of materials to cover nearly every unique application and circumstance. Many considerations such as cost, subsequent application, operating environment, and temperature are assessed to determine the optimum impregnant and method to solve the problem. Applications include large heat exchangers, steam dryers, pump and compressor housings, molds, and military applications. Parts can be ferrous or non-ferrous alloys, wood, plastic, concrete or many other porous materials.

Finally, a leak test that simulates the operational requirements is performed. The successful results allow the client to immediately place the critical component back into operation. A casting sealed in the field will have the same functional characteristics as any other casting. Field-impregnated parts withstand an effective temperature range of -20 to over 1000°F (-30 to 540°C.), and pressures from full vacuum to over 10,000psi (0 to 690 bar). Further, after processing, the parts can be painted or finished as required.

With more than 55 years of experience, IMPCO is the global vacuum-impregnation expert, offering equipment; resins; and parts-cleaning, impregnating, and pressure-testing services for permanently sealing (to industry and U.S. military standards) micro and macro porosity in metal and powdered-metal castings, electronic components, ceramics, and various parts coated with micro-cracked nickel or chrome. IMPCO specialists know how to optimize the impregnation process for components used in braking, transmission, instrumentation, pumping, pressurized-spraying, fire-safety, hydraulic, and compressed-air-and-gas systems. IMPCO will also custom-engineer impregnation systems, providing all the equipment, materials, and ongoing technical assistance a customer needs to establish an in-house impregnating operation.