What is corrosion?
Corrosion is the process by which materials, usually metals, deteriorate due to an electrochemical reaction with their surroundings. All metals are susceptible to corrosion, but metals are especially vulnerable. The most common examples of materials that are susceptible are the following:
Corrosion in Metal Products
- Iron and Steel: Corrosion of these materials are the most common examples of corrosive degradation. The corrosion process forms a thick layer of rust on these surfaces.
- Silver: Tarnishes when it corrodes. The Silver reacts with sulfur-containing gases in the air, forming a silver sulfide compound.
- Copper: Copper turns green when it corrodes. Copper doesn't actually "rust" - it turns green because of a chemical reaction called oxidation, where copper reacts with oxygen and moisture in the air to form a green patina, which is essentially a layer of copper carbonate and copper hydroxide on the surface; this process is often referred to as "weathering" and is why the Statue of Liberty appears green.
- Corrugated metal: Corrugated metal pipe has a service life of only 25 to 30 years, and its service life can be much less in acidic water. Corrugated metal is prone to rusting when moisture gets into the steel core and oxidizes it. This can happen when corrugated metal is exposed to rain, irrigation, or high humidity.
- Stainless steel: The most common form of corrosion in stainless steel is Pitting Corrosion. The common cause is Chloride ion found in everyday materials such as salt and bleach. There is a Sulfur-fixing bacteria that produce a sulfuric or sulfurous acid which can rapidly corrode lower allow stainless steel.
Corrosion in Non-Metal Products
- Concrete: Can corrode when exposed to deicing salts or aggressive chemicals, leading to cracking due to the corrosion of reinforcing steel within it
- Plastics and Polymers: Certain plastics can degrade when exposed to sunlight, chemicals, or high temperatures, leading to loss of strength and flexibility. Polymers are affected mainly by heating cycles.
- Ceramics: There are issues with ceramic components, including cyclic temperature changes, extreme loading, and vibration.
Where can you receive training on Corrosion Testing?
Typically, a test chamber will be configured to run a specific standard. ESGCal does not sell equipment but we do perform repairs, maintenance, and calibration on all brands of chambers. We have been doing this work for 30 years. We will be listing all the brands that we service in this blog.
Mike Macauley, President of Equipment Services Group llc, wanted to make this statement about these standards. “ESGCal provides training on your equipment, at your facility, to ensure that your company has the skilled staff to maintain reliable performance according to the standards below. These standards are complicated and repeated attention is needed to maintain the chamber’s operation.“
Standards used for Corrosion Testing
All of the standards listed are specific to a corrosion test or they include many different types of test methods that also include a corrosion test.
ESGCal-focused training is on corrosive controlled environments.
That is not to say that we only perform calibration and maintenance on these chambers. We perform calibration on all equipment that controls temperature, humidity, and altitude (pressure).
- ASTM B117 - Salt Fog: This standard is globally recognized as the most common method for materials' performance against corrosion resistance. ASTM B117 is a salt spray test that accelerates corrosion to simulate a hot, humid, and salty environment. View the Standard
- ASTM D1654 - Corrosive Resistance: Test method standard for evaluating how well-painted or coated materials resist corrosion in various corrosive environments. View the Standard
- ASTM D3359 - Coating Adhesive: International standard test method for measuring how well a film coating adheres to a metallic substrate. It's also known as the Cross Hatch test. View the Standard
- MIL-STD-810 Method 509 - Salt Fog: United States Department of Defense, Military Standard that establishes uniform methods for testing materials and equipment corrosion resistance. The standard includes several tests that evaluate a material's resistance to environmental stresses, such as acidic atmospheres, salt fog, and fluid contamination. Typically called out as Method 509.7. There are many different versions of this standard. We provide access to Mil-Std-810F in our link. View the Standard
- MIL-STD-202: a regulatory standard that outlines a set of test methods for evaluating the performance of electrical and electronic components. The standard is used to ensure that products are ready for the market and are able to withstand the environmental conditions and physical stresses of military operations.
- MIL-STD-883: a military test standard that establishes uniform procedures, controls, and methods for testing microelectronic devices. The goal of the standard is to identify devices that can withstand the effects of natural elements and conditions, and are suitable for use in military and aerospace electronic systems.
- MIL-STD-1344: a standard that establishes uniform test methods for electrical connectors.
- RTCA DO-160: an international standard that defines the environmental test conditions and procedures for airborne equipment. The purpose is to determine how well airborne equipment performs in the environmental and electrical conditions it may encounter during flight.
- IEC 60068-2: a globally recognized standard that evaluates the ability of equipment, components, and products to withstand environmental conditions. It simulates the mechanical stresses and climatic conditions a product may experience during its lifetime. This testing helps manufacturers assess the durability, performance, and ruggedness of their products.
- SAE J1455: a test standard that outlines recommended environmental practices for electronic equipment in heavy-duty and off-road vehicles.
- SAE J2334: a laboratory test procedure that simulates outdoor exposure to corrosion by using a cyclic salt spray test. Used to determines how a coating system, substrate, process, or design will perform in the face of corrosion
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SAE J 1211: a handbook that provides guidance on the robustness of electrical and electronic modules (EEMs) used in automotive applications. It focuses on:
1) Hardware and manufacturing failure mechanisms
2) Methods for detecting and preventing extrinsic reliability issues
3) The Zero Defect concept for component manufacturing and product use
In addition, there are many other standards that we provide training to. If you have other specialized corrosion equipment that must be set up to run these standards, then ESGCal can provide the setup, operational procedures, and training for these methods.
The other standards include
1) International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
2) German Institute of Standards (DIN)
3) Japanese Automotive Standards Organization (JASO)
4) Verband der Automobilindustrie, which is German for Automotive Industry Association (VDA)
If you need help with a specific standard that is listed on this page or is not listed, please contact us to see if we can assist you.
If you have any questions about the equipment or technical needs, Click Here to contact an expert.
