Salt Spray Chambers

Salt spray test chambers are used to test a product or material in a highly corrosive environment for the purposes of evaluating the long-term effects of salt on an object and its ability to withstand the effects of corrosion. Environmental test chambers evaluate product quality and reliability, and identify manufacturing flaws and weaknesses in those products before they are released to the general market.

The test results recorded through the process of salt spray testing can show the process of product decay and degradation and help predict the potential lifespan of a product or coating. Within the sealed test chamber, a salt-laden spray or a salt-fog (mainly sodium-chloride) is produced by a high-pressure nozzle to check the corrosion resistance of product coatings or coverings for products usually made from steel, brass and other metals.

The metal object is normally hung from a rod or hook in order to expose the most surface area possible for testing purposes. As most metals are highly susceptible to corrosion, protective coatings are often used as a barrier between the metal and the exposure to salt spray and fog. Coatings which are often tested in salt spray test chambers include: phosphate surfaces, zinc and zinc alloy platings, electroplating with chromium, copper and tin, organic coatings and certain painted coatings.Read More…