Ascott Analytical has expanded its corrosion testing range with the introduction of a new generation of compact front-loading salt spray and cyclic corrosion test chambers, designed specifically for laboratories where floor space is limited but testing capability cannot be compromised.

Available in 300-litre and 400-litre capacities, the new Ultra Compact range brings Ascott’s corrosion testing technology into a smaller, highly accessible format.

The range includes salt spray, premium salt spray and fully programmable cyclic corrosion configurations, giving laboratories greater flexibility when selecting equipment for international corrosion testing requirements.

Compact corrosion testing without compromising capability

Laboratory space is increasingly valuable.

While conventional corrosion chambers often use a top-opening canopy, Ascott’s new Ultra Compact range uses a front-loading test area, allowing the chamber to occupy a significantly more practical footprint within the laboratory.

The front door is pneumatically operated, providing convenient access to test samples while helping operators load and unload components easily.

This makes the new chambers particularly suitable for laboratories testing smaller components, coated panels, fasteners, electronics, automotive components and other samples where the capacity of a larger corrosion chamber simply isn’t required.

Available models include:

• S300iS / S400iS – Standard Salt Spray Chambers
• S300iP / S400iP – Premium Salt Spray Chambers
• CC300iP / CC400iP – Cyclic Corrosion Test Chambers

Salt spray testing to international standards

The Standard models are designed for continuous salt spray testing and can support widely recognised corrosion test methods including ASTM B117 and ISO 9227.

Salt spray testing remains one of the world’s most widely used methods for evaluating the comparative corrosion resistance of metallic materials, surface treatments and protective coatings.

Inside the chamber, a controlled salt fog environment exposes samples to corrosive conditions under repeatable laboratory parameters.

For organisations carrying out routine quality control, coating evaluation or product validation, the compact S300iS and S400iS provide a practical way to introduce professional salt spray testing without installing a larger capacity chamber than the application requires.

More advanced salt spray testing

For laboratories requiring greater flexibility, the S300iP and S400iP Premium Salt Spray Chambers provide additional environmental control.

Alongside conventional salt spray testing, Premium models can perform modified corrosion tests where salt spray is combined with drying to perform Prohesion testing, or high humidity conditions (wetting) 95-100%RH.

Programmable touchscreen control allows test sequences to be created, stored and automatically executed, helping laboratories improve both repeatability and operator efficiency.

Compact cyclic corrosion testing

The CC300iP and CC400iP Cyclic Corrosion Test Chambers take the capability a step further.

Rather than exposing samples to one continuous environment, cyclic corrosion testing can repeatedly change the conditions surrounding a specimen.

The chambers can combine multiple environments including:

Salt spray → controlled humidity → condensation humidity → drying → controlled temperature → ambient drying →repeat

These changing conditions can provide a more sophisticated corrosion testing environment than traditional continuous salt spray testing and are increasingly specified by manufacturers developing coatings, materials and components for demanding applications.

The individual climates can be programmed in different sequences and for different durations before automatically repeating the cycle.

Six environmental conditions in one compact chamber

Depending on configuration, the CC300iP and CC400iP can provide:

Salt Spray

A precisely controlled corrosive salt fog environment.

Controlled Humidity

Temperature and relative humidity can be controlled for corrosion cycles requiring defined humidity conditions.

Condensation Humidity

Creates a saturated high-humidity environment where condensation forms on test specimens.

Forced Air Drying

Dry air is circulated through the chamber to create controlled drying stages.

Ambient Air Drying

The chamber can introduce laboratory ambient conditions during programmed test sequences.

Controlled Temperature

The chamber can also operate without salt spray or humidity as a temperature-controlled environment during selected stages of a test cycle.

Bringing these conditions together within a single compact cyclic corrosion chamber allows manufacturers and laboratories to perform increasingly sophisticated corrosion test programmes without requiring multiple pieces of equipment.

Designed for the modern test laboratory

Compact dimensions do not mean basic equipment.

The new range incorporates many of the features expected from Ascott corrosion testing systems, including touchscreen control, programmable testing, corrosion-resistant construction and safety systems designed around the aggressive environment created during salt spray testing.

A portable 115-litre salt solution reservoir is also provided, helping operators manage salt solution outside the main test chamber.

Customers can also choose from nine standard door colours, allowing equipment to complement an existing laboratory or corporate colour scheme.

Why laboratories are moving towards cyclic corrosion testing

Traditional neutral salt spray testing remains extremely important and is specified by standards including ASTM B117 and ISO 9227.

However, real-world corrosion rarely occurs under one constant environmental condition.

Components may experience moisture, salt contamination, temperature changes, periods of drying and changing humidity throughout their service life.

For this reason, manufacturers in sectors including automotive, aerospace, defence, electronics, coatings and general manufacturing increasingly use cyclic corrosion testing alongside conventional salt spray testing.

The ability to reproduce multiple environmental conditions within a controlled and repeatable laboratory test can provide engineers with valuable information when comparing materials, protective coatings and manufacturing processes.

Manufactured by corrosion testing specialists

Ascott Analytical has specialised in corrosion test equipment for more than 35 years, supplying salt spray and cyclic corrosion chambers to laboratories and manufacturers around the world.

The new Ultra Compact range expands that portfolio by providing another option for customers who need professional corrosion testing capability but do not require the capacity or footprint of a conventional large chamber.

Whether the requirement is straightforward ASTM B117 salt spray testing, ISO 9227 testing, modified salt spray testing or more advanced cyclic corrosion testing, the 300L and 400L range provides customers with a compact platform that can be matched to their testing requirements.

Find the right corrosion test chamber for your application

Choosing a corrosion chamber should be based on the test standards you need to perform, the dimensions and quantity of your test specimens and any future testing requirements.

Ascott’s team can review your required test standards and recommend the most appropriate salt spray or cyclic corrosion chamber configuration.

Contact Ascott Analytical to discuss your corrosion testing requirements or learn more about the new 300L and 400L Ultra Compact range.