Salt-fog Testing

According to MIL-STD 810 Method 509, salt-fog testing evaluates the material’s resistance to corrosion and the effects of putting a moist, salty solution on electrical components. One of the world’s most seductive chemical substances, salt is unavoidable. The consequences of salt fog are most severe in coastal areas. Three criteria can be used to categorize how a material affects an environment with corrosive air:

Consequences of Corrosion

• An electrochemical reaction that causes corrosion.
• Accelerated corrosion due to stress.
• After salt ionization in water, acidic/alkaline solutions are produced.

Consequences of Electricity

• Due to salt buildup, electrical equipment is damaged.
• Conductive coatings production.
• Corrosion of metals and insulating materials.

Bodily effects

• Binding or clogging of moving parts in mechanical assemblies and components.
• Electrolysis-induced paint blistering.
• Steel, brass, and zamak coatings are the most often tested coatings. The salt-fog test, which is conducted using an expedited technique inside a salt-fog chamber, effectively evaluates corrosion resistance. The chamber regulates pH, salt content, and salt-fog production. Because different coatings behave differently, various tests of differing lengths are needed.