Corrosion Testing Standards

The test standard summaries are for general guidance only. Though believed to be accurate at the time of writing, this may change over time. So this information should not be used as a substitute for referring to a complete test standard, at an appropriate revision level.

Note: the terms salt spray, salt mist and salt fog are all in wide spread use within corrosion test standards. In this context they can be considered to be equivalent and interchangeable terms.

ASTM G85 annex A3

Seawater acidified test, cyclic

Can be used to test the relative resistance to corrosion of coated or uncoated aluminium alloys and other metals, when exposed to an changing climate of acidified synthetic seawater spray, followed by a high humidity, both at an elevated temperature.

Test specimens are placed in an enclosed chamber, and exposed to a changing climate that comprises of the following 2 part repeating cycle. 30 minutes exposure to a continuous indirect spray of acidified (pH 2.8 to 3.0) synthetic seawater solution, which falls-out on to the specimens at a rate of 1.0 to 2.0ml/80cm²/hour. This is followed by 90 minutes exposure to a high humidity climate of above 98%RH. The entire test cycle is at a constant chamber temperature of +49C (may be reduced to +24 to +35C for organically coated specimens). The number of cycle repeats and therefore the test duration is variable.

This test is also referred to as a SWAAT test.

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