Salt Spray Testing

Salt Spray (Fog) Corrosion Exposure Testing

Salt spray testing is a standardized test method used to assess the corrosion resistance of coated or otherwise surface treated samples.  Micom Laboratories Inc. is accredited to ISO 17025 by the A2LA to perform accelerated corrosion testing using the ASTM B117 also known as the Standard Practice for Operating Salt Spray (Fog) Apparatus. It is widely used by the automotive, aerospace, surface coatings, building materials and many other industries.

Salt Fog and Salt Spray Testing Services| Micom Laboratories

Salt spray testing can be carried out with the following test methods:

  • GM 4298P
  • GM 9540P
  • GMW 14872
  • MIL STD 202
  • MIL STD 810
  • MIL STD 883C 
  • SAE J14563 

Salt spray testing is popular because the test is inexpensive, quick, standardized and repeatable. Since corrosion is a very complicated process and since it can be influenced by many external factors, there is, however, only limited correlation between the exposure duration and the expected life of a coating surface.

Salt spray testing for corrosion at material testing Micom Laboratories

Nevertheless, it is widely used in the industrial sector for the evaluation of corrosion resistance of finished surfaces or parts. To improve the correlation between how corrosion as observed in real life and how it reacts in laboratory, cyclic corrosion test equipment and procedures were developed. For outdoor exposure, it is not uncommon to see 2000 hours of exposures.

ASTM B117 is a practice used for salt spray testing that provides a set of standardized corrosive conditions.  The cabinet’s temperature is maintained at 35 °C.  The salt fog solution has to have a pH within a range of 6.5 to 7.2 and a sodium chloride concentration of 5% by mass. This practice is often referred to by other test methods/specifications that will specify the exposure duration, the specimen preparation and the post-test evaluation procedure.  For example, ASTM D3359 will be used to measure coating adhesion and corrosion creep in conjunction with ASTM B117. In addition, the ASTM D1654 is a standardized test method for preparing and evaluating samples for corrosion.

Other Tests Related to Salt Spray Testing

For additional test methods related to Salt Spray Testing, we invite you to read more about ASTM B117, Cyclic Corrosion, Surface coatings,  ASTM D5894, and ASTM G85 (including SWAAT test).

If you have any questions about salt spray testing or corrosion testing, we invite you to contact us today. It will be our pleasure to answer your questions and help you with your material testing requirements. You can always speak to one of our material testing specialist at 1-888-996-4266.