Corrosion Testing for the Automotive Industry


Q‑Lab is the world leader in cyclic corrosion testing equipment and test services for the automotive industry, testing for a wide range of failure modes.

Why Test?

The automotive industry represents a unique and complex mix of materials, which must meet stringent outdoor durability requirements in a highly cost-conscious, rapidly-changing market. Corrosion is responsible for billions of dollars of damage to materials and infrastructure each year.

Will your automotive components last outdoors when exposed in corrosive climates? Will your coatings still protect the base metal after initial damage? Do your new raw material suppliers have the same quality as your previous ones? Has something changed in your process that might affect the long-term durability of your products? Don't guess when you can test.

Introduction to Corrosion

Q‑Lab serves automotive OEMs and all tiers of the supply chain, including the following segments:

  • Organic Coatings
  • Inorganic Coatings
  • Structural Components
  • Drivetrain Assemblies
  • Wheels & Suspensions
  • Trim Assemblies
  • Fasteners

For testing against the forces of corrosion, Q‑FOG cyclic corrosion test chambers are the perfect tool for recreating atmospheric corrosion in the laboratory. Q‑Lab offers corrosion equipment to meet all types of salt exposure tests. The Q‑FOG SSP model performs simple salt spray and Prohesion testing; CCT models add the capability to introduce wet/dry cycling; and CRH models control relative humidity to meet the precise requirements of even the most stringent international and OEM tests.

Our Exposure Testing Services for the Automotive Industry

Salt-Accelerated Outdoor Corrosion

Direct exposures with salt spray can produce fast and realistic corrosion, particularly for coated metals. Specimens in salt-accelerated corrosion tests are sprayed with a salt solution twice per week.

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Accelerated Laboratory

Accelerated laboratory corrosion testing is an efficient and effective way to evaluate the durability of automotive components. Q‑FOG cyclic corrosion testers provide the best possible laboratory simulation of natural atmospheric corrosion.

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Q‑Lab's cyclic corrosion testers simulate the atmospheric conditions that cause different types of automotive component corrosion, including:

  • General Corrosion
  • Galvanic Corrosion
  • Crevice Corrosion
  • Filiform Corrosion
  • Pitting Corrosion

A variety of automotive corrosion test standards are available to evaluate components’ performance and durability. Visit Q‑Lab’s Standards Search page to browse standards and find the right test for your product.

Additional Testing for Automotive Applications

Florida & Arizona Natural Outdoor

The automotive industry represents a unique and complex mix of materials, which must meet stringent outdoor durability requirements. Vehicles are subject to the damaging forces of nature, including sunlight, heat, and moisture. Will your automotive exterior and products last outdoors? Don't guess when you can test.

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Accelerated Weathering Testing

Accelerated laboratory weathering testing is an efficient and effective way to evaluate the durability of automotive interior and exterior materials, designed to accelerate your weathering testing process to provide you with accurate and reliable answers.

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