Importance of ASTM B117 Salt Spray Chamber for Coated Metals

Metal coating practices is an ancient practice now, that is a part of almost all industries. The coating of metals not only improves their appearance aesthetically but also protects them by shielding them from external environmental pollution which can attack their structural and qualitative properties. The most dangerous of them are Corrosive agents. In this blog, we bring insights from the industry’s leading experts on how ASTM B117-based Salt Spray Tester can help in the precise testing of coated metal.

Relevance and challenges in corrosion testing of coated metals

Metal is composed of a major portion of iron and other metal molecules. Due to this, they tend to react very rapidly to the corrosive environment. Especially, in the lack of an efficient coating layer, they may react to the oxygen molecules present in the water, humidity, or salt fog around them and oxidize. With time, the reaction leads to corrosion and can even damage the product inside out.

Corrosion is a natural factor which cant be controlled, what can be done is to protect the metal surface from the surrounding factors by adding an effective barrier in between. But how do we know a coating is efficient enough that it can be chosen for specific metal.

ASTM B117 Salt Spray Tester - Solution to Salt Fog Test Challenges

Pacorr, a leading and renowned name in quality testing equipment manufacturing, have brought FRP-based Salt Spray Testing Machine after thorough market research, and lab analysis by a skilled and highly experienced team. The tester conforms to multiple international standards including ASTM B117. This particular standard defines rules on how to conduct a corrosion test for coated metals. They specify the parameters to keep, the chamber design, angles, and the entire process. The standard is accepted worldwide and is the most accurate test process. The tester is made of a Fibre-reinforced body that allows long-lasting protection from corrosion to the machine itself. This is a very important feature that many such machines don't have. Due to this with continuous corrosion testing cycles, they start corroding and interfere with the test results.

In addition to this, the chamber offer features like a continuous flowing salt fog funnel that is connected to a tank of salt solution. A pH balance checker and safety features that ensure warning signals on over-heating or before the testing solution is going to finish. Using an ASTM-based machine can help the user in long run and improve the quality of coating material.