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.

VDA 233-102

Cyclic corrosion testing of materials & components in automotive construction.

The purpose of this test is to provide an accelerated test procedure for the assessment of the corrosion behaviour of components and of the corrosion protection provided by coating systems. The test method is based on real corrosive conditions and delivers differentiated results for a large number of uses in automotive applications

Test specimens are placed in an enclosed chamber, and positioned at an angle of 65° to 75° to the horizontal with the side to be tested uppermost. The salt spray phase is performed with a 1% solution of sodium chloride, (pH 6.5 to 7.1) and falls out onto the specimens at a rate of 2.0 to 4.0ml/80cm²/hour.

A full test cycle lasts 7 days and consists of:

Cycles A,B & C are multi step cycles consisting of varying degrees of temperature from -15°C to +50°C and humidity values of between 50% and 95%.

The typical test duration is six full test cycles. (6 Weeks)