A Simple, Repeatable Continuous Salt Fog Test
ASTM B117, along with ISO 9227, is the most widely-used corrosion test method worldwide. It is a neutral salt spray (fog) test for assessing the corrosion resistance of metals and coatings. With a salt fog environment continuously applied at constant temperature, materials are rigorously tested to simulate harsh conditions. This proven method provides insights into durability and performance, helping manufacturers ensure their products stand up to the elements.
- Conditions: Continuous atomized salt fog with a chamber temperature of 35 °C
- Solution: 5% Sodium Chloride solution with a pH of 6.5 to 7.2
- Collections: 1-2 mL/hr when collected in an 10 cm (4 in) diameter funnel
Why Test to ASTM B117?
ASTM B117 is used in many industries & applications including the automotive, construction, aerospace, consumer goods & electronics, and paint & coatings industries. Manufacturers rely on ASTM B117 to meet strict industry standards and regulatory requirements, providing a mark of quality assurance. The goal of the test is to provide a controlled, accelerated, corrosive environment to evaluate the relative corrosion resistance of materials
While it doesn’t necessarily create excellent correlation to outdoor corrosive conditions, it produces results very quickly and has better repeatability and reproducibility than any other test, making it ideal for quality control testing of corrosion resistance.
Pros and Cons of ASTM B117
- Long History and Broad Acceptance
- ASTM B117 is widely recognized internationally, making it easy to compare to historical and published data. It's a globally-accepted test for corrosion evaluation.
- Simple and Cost-Effective
- This test method is inexpensive in comparison to other advanced corrosion testing methods. Additionally, the test itself is relatively easy to perform.
- Reproducibility and Repeatibility
- The simple, non-cyclic nature of ASTM B117 allows for very good consistency from test to test, laboratory to laboratory.
- Wide Range of Applications
- ASTM B117 is used across many industries, including automotive, aerospace, marine, and electronics.
- Not always representative of real-world conditions
- The test conditions do not accurately replicate real environmental conditions like humidity, temperature fluctuations, complex salts, or industrial pollutants, and may not reproduce all relevant corrosion types.
- Limited to salt exposure
- ASTM B117 uses a neutral electrolyte, which may not test effectively for corrosion caused by acidic or alkaline conditions.
- Over-emphasis of surface corrosion
- The test focuses on how coatings perform under salt exposure, but doesn’t fully evaluate their protection against underlying metal corrosion.
- Incomplete results
- Some materials or coatings may pass the ASTM B117 test but fail in real-world scenarios due to differences in environmental factors that aren’t simulated by the test, like UV exposure or cyclic natural conditions
How Q-Lab Can Help
Q-FOG Cyclic Corrosion Test Chambers
Cyclic corrosion testing provides the best laboratory simulation of natural atmospheric corrosion. In just a few days or weeks, Q‑Lab’s line of Q‑FOG test chambers can reproduce the damage that occurs over months or years outdoors.
Testing Services
Q-Lab offers a full range of laboratory testing services in our fully-equipped laboratories in Florida and Germany. We can perform everything from simple salt spray testing to modern automotive cyclic corrosion tests. Laboratory corrosion testing can be used for quality control, material certification, durability studies, and independent third-party verification.
Q-PANEL Standard Test Substrates
Q‑PANEL paint test substrates are the world’s most recognizable and widely-used standard test panels. Q‑Lab manufactures millions of panels each year for a variety of industries, most available immediately from stock. Q‑Lab’s CX-series mass-loss corrosion coupons ensure repeatability and reproducibility when performing laboratory corrosion testing. CXC-35 mass-loss coupons are suitable for testing according to ASTM B117.
More ASTM B117 Resources
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