Thermal shock chambers cycle a product or device between temperature extremes to reveal manufacturing defects or faulty components. Thermal shock cycling replicates field conditions the item under test may experience, whether it be a transfer from a warm cargo bay to a blizzard or years of environmental stress. A thermal shock chamber consists of a compartment to simulate temperature highs and one to simulate temperature lows; the item under test is transferred between the two, often by means of an elevator which can instantly transfer the item to the other chamber. Air-to-air thermal shock testing is the most common variety, in which the product moves from one extreme to another. A thermal shock is delivered by means of temperature changes of 30°C per minute.
During thermal shock testing, the behavior of the subject is analyzed. Does it cool or heat at different speeds in different parts? Do different components or materials respond differently? The answers to these questions indicate whether the item will suffer swells, fractures, contractions or other faults that would be disastrous in the field. Thermal shock testing is often performed to adhere to standards like MIL-STD-810. This standard provides guidance on how to assess whether a product will endure for its intended service life.
ATEC offers affordable thermal shock chamber rentals for chambers from leading manufacturers like Cincinnati Sub-Zero, Tenney and Espec.