ASTM B117 Salt Spray Corrosion Test

ASTM B117 Salt Spray Corrosion Test is a salt spray test used to generate relative corrosion resistance information for metal and coated metal samples exposed to a standard corrosive environment.

Salt Spray Corrosion Test ASTM B117 is primarily used to compare the corrosion resistance of painted or metal coated samples. The test has been used for almost 100 years and has been standardized as ASTM B1939 since 117. Described as the salt fog or salt spray test, this test is a very popular corrosion test designed to provide corrosion resistance information on metals and coated metals. 

For What Purpose Is the ASTM B117 Test Applied?

• To compare the abrasive resistance of various metals or varnishes
• To determine the abrasive tendency when a metal or coated surface is scratched (perform ASTM B117 + ASTM D1654 together)
• To measure coating adhesion and corrosion creep (perform ASTM B117 + ASTM D3359 together)
• For the best prediction of corrosion resistance in the marine environment (wetness, temperature, salt mist)

Factors to be Considered When Conducting the ASTM B117 Test

ASTM B117 is not a test specification in itself. Instead, it outlines standard practice for operating salt spray (fog) apparatus. ASTM B117 is a document that sets the parameters and requirements for operating a salt spray test chamber. It specifies how to create and maintain a salt fog test environment so that results can be consistently obtained from lab to lab and from room to room.

ASTM B117 does not state anything about the type, dimensions, shape, or exposure times of the test sample to be used for a particular product and does not contain any requirements or guidance for interpretation of results.

How to Get Results from the ASTM B117 Salt Fog Test

By visual inspection after exposure to ASTM B117 corrosion, you can determine the suitability of coatings, paints, and metals to corrosion or exposure to marine environments. With the addition of ASTM D3359 (adhesion with tape), you can see how well a coating adheres to metal and how far corrosion progresses. With the addition of ASTM D1654 (boot) you can see how corrosion develops from a scratch to the underlying metal through paint or coating. 

It should be understood that the correlation of corrosive results resulting from ASTM B117's exposure to real-world conditions is also not part of this test standard and is difficult to predict. ASTM B117 is used in many fields such as Automotive (example: SAE J14563, GM 4298P…), Paints and Coatings, Aerospace and Military (MIL-STD-810).

EUROLAB, together with its accredited laboratories and expert team with state-of-the-art technology, helps you to get precise and fast results within the scope of ASTM B117 test.