What is Salt Spray Testing?

A Salt Spray Test is an accelerated laboratory test providing a controlled corrosive environment to determine the rusting performance of a product in the field.

Salt Spray Testing is a requirement in a wide range of industries such as automotive, military, paint, and research institutions. It can be conducted on bare material as well as painted or coated material.

The well known ASTM-B117 salt spray test standard is commonly used. A solution of sodium chloride is sprayed at an angle between 15° to 30°. The temperature maintained within chamber is constant. The duration of test can be anywhere between 24 hours to 1,000 hours. Samples are rotated at regular intervals to allow even coating of the salt solution. The salt spray solution will put materials in a very harsh environment which will rust the surface and determine the result of damage inflicted by salt as well as a high chloride content.

This test helps researchers and product designers develop products such as paints, coatings, chemical treatments, paint pretreatments applied to metallic coated steel sheet products or any material that can be more resistant to salt damage.