Corrosion Testing
Realistically, the only way to know whether or not a particular product will withstand corrosive environments is to test it in corrosive environments. Unfortunately, testing equipment in their intended environments would take years at the rates that corrosion normally occurs. This means the solution involves testing equipment under conditions that produce highly accelerated rates of corrosion. Our corrosion testing laboratories are equipped to provide corrosion testing and corrosion monitoring under accelerated conditions to simulate years’ worth of accumulated corrosion within a period of days.
Some standards require corrosion measurement to determine if equipment is suitable for more corrosive environments than those requiring a typical salt-fog corrosion test. Applications requiring this type of testing are often indicated when materials or products are stored or operated in areas where acidic atmospheres exist such as industrial areas — or in the presence of exhaust generated by any fuel-burning device. If needed, our corrosion testing laboratories use gases such as sulfur dioxide to simulate exhaust.
Corrosion Testing Standards
The corrosion testing laboratories at NTS perform corrosion measurement to a variety of applicable standards including the following:
- MIL-STD-810 — Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests is a standard that places emphasis on considering the influence that the environmental conditions will have on the material and components of a product during its life cycle. The standard details the environmental tailoring process that results in realistic material test methods based on performance requirements.
- Salt Spray Testing as per ASTM B117 and GM9540P
Industries Currently Requiring Corrosion Service
At NTS, we routinely provide corrosion services to the following industries:
- Aerospace — Naval aircraft hangared aboard aircraft carriers are continuously exposed to a salty atmosphere. In addition, the aircrafts on the flight deck are consistently exposed to the exhaust plumes of other aircrafts as they are taking off and landing. In a less severe case, civilian aircrafts visit airports located in coastal areas, but the contributing factors of salty air and engine exhaust are still present in the environment.
- Automotive — Virtually every component of an automobile is susceptible to corrosion, from axles and u-joints to engine parts. The materials these components are made of must be able to withstand many environmental conditions, including acid rain and road salt.
- Marine— Whenever equipment fails aboard a vessel, repairs are often complicated by bolts that have turned to rust and require extensive heating to remove them. Repairs are also affected by hose clamps that will not loosen, hydraulic fittings that must be cut off with an angle grinder, and brackets that break under stress when mechanics attempt to remove them. Sometimes, corrosion is the sole cause of equipment failure — this happens to electronic equipment operating in marine environments or mechanical equipment that relies on direct contact with seawater for operation.
- Defense — In defense applications, equipment needs to function reliably in the harshest and most extreme environments. The United States Navy, in particular, routinely faces significant challenges with the effects that saltwater corrosion has on weaponry and other equipment.
- Medical— For obvious reasons, medical equipment needs to remain sanitary. Because of this, medical staff frequently use harsh, caustic chemicals for disinfection purposes. Harsh chemicals often pose corrosion potentials that need to be countered during the design of products for medical applications.
- Commercial Products— Many commercial and industrial products are exposed to corrosive environments on a routine basis, yet they need to provide reliable service over a long life. These products may be found in swimming areas, food processing facilities, chemical plants, and more.
If you have any questions about our corrosion testing services or have questions about a particular application, please contact us today. Learn what NTS can do for your application.