Salt Spray Testing
Testing The Corrosion Resistance Of Coated Samples
An Introduction To Salt Spray Testing
Every reputable manufacturer in the metal finishing industry understands the importance of testing pre-treated and coated surfaces to ensure the highest quality and longevity of their products.
The Salt (Water) Spray Test is one of the most widespread and popular test methods. It’s used to check the corrosion resistance of materials and surface coatings through an accelerated test process.
Dating as far back as 1939, it’s an industry-wide standardised process laid out within national and international standards, such as ASTM B 117 and ISO 9227. This includes the construction of the test machinery, testing procedure and testing parameters.
So, with all being equal as it is, the main differential between different service providers will be in the reporting procedures – and the pricing.
Simple Pricing
We are unique amongst corrosion testing service providers in the UK in that:
- We only charge a fixed price per hour of £0.35p
- There are no set-up costs
- There is no minimum test duration
- We charge per component.
What this means in real terms is that should there be a premature failure in a testing programme – hopefully not – you will only pay for the testing time up until that point. This is opposed to the industry standard where you are charged for a set minimum of hours, usually 1000, whatever the outcome.
FOR EXAMPLE – 3 x panels for 1000 hours = £1050.00
However, should the panels unfortunately fail at 250 hours, we would only charge for that duration: £262.50.
Recording & Reporting
The duration of the salt spray test is determined by the application standard or the customer’s own specifications and requirements. Typically the duration would be between 24 – 500 hours.
The extent of corrosion on each specimen is evaluated every 24 hours and details noted. At the end of the specified test period, final evaluation is made in accordance with the applicable standard / customer specification and provided in a detailed test report that includes photos. (Many more than in our sample report here).
Possible reporting data includes:
- Type of salt and water used in preparing the salt solution
- Exposure variables at each monitoring point, such as chamber temperature, condensate volume, condensate pH and condensate salt concentration/S.G.
- Type of specimen and its dimensions, or number or description of part
- Method of cleaning specimens before and after testing
- Method of supporting or suspending article in the salt spray chamber
- Description of masking / protection used (if any)
- Exposure period – usually a multiple of 24, such as 168 hours or 336 hours
- Interruptions in exposure, cause, and length of time
- Results of all inspections.
About Us
Salt Spray Test is operated by a sister company of PreTreat Ltd, a British-owned, independent company that formulates, fabricates and supplies a wide range of speciality chemicals for the manufacturing and metal finishing industries.
Founded in 2006, they have evolved to become one of the leading privately-owned speciality chemicals manufacturers in their field.
Since its outset, PreTreat has always used salt spray testing to help test and develop its ever-growing and evolving range of pre-treatment products, a process which it quickly brought in-house.
It then extended the service to its clients and other metalworking manufacturers across the UK through its subsidiary, Walterisation Ltd.
