Choosing the right material or coating and understanding your in-service conditions may save you costly failures and repairs in the future. Corrosion testing (also referred to as fluid susceptibility, resistance to oxidation, resistance to deterioration or weatherability) can help to screen materials for estimated component service life, compare candidate materials, and assess a material’s compatibility with a particular fluid or service environment. Corrosion testing can also provide data to ensure your processes such as coating, anodizing, and electroplating are being performed to specification.
There are two main areas of testing that are commonly utilized depending on the scenario:
There are two main areas of testing that are commonly utilized depending on the scenario:
- Corrosive material testing: This test evaluates the effect that a given material has on a metal surface when in contact with it. Effects can be elevated or advanced when also exposed to air, fluids, varying temperatures or a combination of both. Standard and custom protocols can be designed to best mimic actual service conditions that may involve exposure to liquids such as hydraulic oils, fuels, cleaning agents, oils, transmission fluids, coolants, and de-icing agents.
- Corrosive atmospheric testing: Alternatively, corrosive atmospheric testing measures the corrosive effects a particular environment may have on a bare metal or coated metal surface. Materials can also be exposed to various fluids or vapors in order to measure corrosive effects they may have on a part or material. Depending on the specification or product requirement, testing can be performed at elevated or sub-ambient temperatures.
Industries We Serve
Common Standards
- ASTM B117—Development of relative corrosion resistance information for specimens of metals and coated metals exposed to a controlled corrosive environment.
- ASTM D1414—Corrosion potential of a rubber or thermoplastic O-ring in contact with a metal surface.
- ISO 6505—Determination for the potential of a rubber or thermoplastic material to adhere to and or corrode a metal surface.
- USP-V-11-95—Corrosion potential of a liquid chemical in contact with a steel or aluminum rim or wheel.
Our Expertise
Smithers commonly tests to several standardized test protocols and can also work with your team to determine the best custom protocol to better predict real world results. Over the years, many ad hoc corrosion/adhesion tests have been performed on a wide variety of materials and product forms.- Corrosion Testing
- Environmental Stress Cracking (ESC) Testing
- Fire Resistance and Flammability Testing
- Fluid Aging Testing
- Fluid Contamination and Susceptibility Testing | Fluid Compatibility Testing
- Heat Aging
- Ozone Testing
- Salt Spray Testing
- Thermal and Humidity Aging
- Weathering and UV Testing
- Xenon Arc Weathering
