Testing Method for rubber gasket seal

[BlaineW]

I have a product that consists of two handle halves screwed together with a rubber gasket compressed in a channel between them. There are also 3 rotary spring seals over shafts on one handle half.

I am looking for suggestions on the best way, in a manufacturing clean room environment, to do an in process test to evaluate whether our seals are installed properly. The condition these are designed for is a 35 psi gage steam pressure for several minutes followed by a vacuum.(For those familiar with the medical world this is an autoclave cycle)

I'm looking at alternatives to simulate this cycle in process.

Should I pressurize the inside and look for pressure decay? (inside pressure reduces bolt compression)

Should I put in a chamber with vacuum(can't reach 35 psi differential with vacuum)

Should I submerge in liquid? (possible damage to electronics internally)

Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[btrueblood]

Looks like a good spot for a helium leak detector.

 

[dgallup]

There are lots of commercial leak detectors. Pressure is always easier than vacuum. I prefer flow meters to pressure decay but they cost more.

Liquid submersion is always my last choice.