ASTM B117Micom offers ASTM B117 accelerated corrosion testing – also known as saltspray testing – as part of its surface finish test services.

Salt Spray Fog Testing – Uses and factors to consider:

ASTM B117 is used to produce relative corrosion resistance information forspecimens of metals and coated metals exposed in a standardized corrosiveenvironment.

According to ASTM International, ASTM B117, in and of itself, is not a testspecification. Rather, it outlines the standard practice for operating salt spray(fog) apparatus. B117 is a document establishing the parameters andrequirements for operating a salt spray test chamber. It specifies how tocreate and maintain the salt fog test environment so that results can beachieved consistently from lab to lab and chamber to chamber.

ASTM B117 does not specify anything about the type of test specimen,dimensions, shape or exposure periods to be used for a specific product, nordoes it have any requirements or guidance for the interpretation of theresults.

ASTM B117 is used in many industries, including:

Automotive (example: SAE J14563, GM 4298P…)

Paints and Coatings

Aerospace

Military (MIL-STD-810)

Among others, the following test methods call up practice ASTM B117:

ASTM D1654 M0140 (Nissan)

ASTM D1735 SAE 1455ASTM D2247 GM 4298P (General Motors)

ASTM D5894 GM 9540 (General Motors)

ASTM G44 TSH1552G (Toyota)ASTM G85 HES 6501 (Honda)

ISO 9227

This practice is used in many other standards, both in North America andacross the world. For a list of salt spray tests please see: salt spray methodslist.

The type and number of test specimens to be used, as well as the criteria forthe evaluation of the test results, will be required in the specificationscovering the product being exposed or shall be mutually agreed upon by theparties involved.

Reasons for ASTM B117 Testing and Results

There are many different reasons for which you should conduct salt fogtesting, chief among them is determining the effect of corrosion on yourspecimen. Different metals and surfaces can exhibit differing amounts ofresistance with respect to corrosion, and ASTM B117 testing will allow you tocompare this. It will also allow you to judge a surface’s tendency to corrodewhen it is scratched as well as the adhesion of its coating.

The results you gain from salt spray testing will allow you to gauge how wellyour metal, surface or coating can resist corrosion. By combining ASTM B117with some of the other tests mentioned above, like ASTM D1654 and ASTMD3359, you can also see how much scratching will affect the corrosion of yourspecimen and how far corrosion creeps.

Typical Experimental Parameters for the ASTM B117 test:

There are numerous parameters we will want to confirm with you in order torun a proper ASTM B117 salt spray test. These include:

Number of specimens/products: usually 1 (to be confirmed)Specimen dimensions: 3” X 6” (Typical for flat specimen. 3D samplescan also be tested. Please specify dimensions)Exposure duration: hoursOptional sample preparation to be specified:

CleaningScribing (ASTM D1654 or other)Edges protection if exposed

Orientation (if required please specify): While in the salt spray cabinet,specimens shall be supported or suspended between 15 and 30 degreesfrom perfectly vertical and, preferably, parallel to the principal directionof flow of fog through the chamber, based upon the dominant surfacebeing tested. Samples shall be supported by their bottom or side.Visual inspection (if specified please specify time intervals)Post-test evaluations:

You may require interval/post-test evaluations for your sample(s).

The following test methods are most often requested

ASTM D610: Rusting on painted metalASTM D714: Blistering on painted metalASTM D1654: Rust creepage (final inspection)ASTM D3359: Tape AdhesionASTM D3363: Coating HardnessAnd many others…

Other related test methods:

As mentioned above, ASTM B117 is a specific accelerated aging test. Forother aging tests and additional test methods related to ASTM B117, pleasesee UV testing, Climatic chamber testing, Coating testing.