ASTM B117 Standard for Operating Salt Spray (Fog) Apparatus

ASTM B117 is a salt spray (salt spray corrosion) test standard developed by ASTM International. It is also one of the most widely used corrosion testing standards worldwide. This standard specifies the operating methods and basic testing conditions for salt spray testing. Users test the corrosion resistance of metal materials, coatings, and surface treatments in a controlled environment according to this standard.

ASTM B117 primarily specifies requirements for salt solution concentration, test chamber temperature, pH, spray rate, and related parameters. The specific test duration and judgment requirements are usually based on product standards, industry specifications, or customer technical requirements. If you need to conduct salt spray tests that meet ASTM B117 requirements, you can choose the OTS Technik salt spray test chamber.

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Scope of ASTM B117 Standard

ASTM B117 is mainly used for the testing of the corrosion resistance of the following materials and products:

  • Metal materials
  • Electroplated and galvanized parts
  • Organic coatings such as paint and powder coatings
  • Anodized and other surface-treated products
  • Fasteners, automotive parts, electronic components, and hardware products

Note: ASTM B117 does not specify the acceptance criteria or test duration for products. These should be determined based on relevant product standards, industry specifications, or customer requirements.

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Automotive-Salt-Fog-Chamber

ASTM B117 Test Conditions

Parameter Requirement
Salt Solution 5% Sodium Chloride
Chamber Temperature 35°C
pH 6.5–7.2
Spray Collection 1–2 mL/80 cm²/h
Spray Type Continuous Fog
Air Supply Clean, Saturated
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ASTM B117 Test Procedure

1. Sample Preparation

Clean and pre-treat the sample to remove oil, dust, or other contaminants that may affect the test results.

2. Salt Solution Preparation

Prepare the salt solution according to ASTM B117. Adjust the pH value to the specified range.

3. Chamber Setup

Place the specimen inside the test chamber and adjust the temperature, spray volume, air pressure, and other test conditions to meet the requirements of ASTM B117.

4. Continuous Salt Spray Exposure

The sample was exposed to a continuous salt spray environment. The testing time needs to be determined based on product standards or customer requirements.

5. Periodic Inspection

Inspect the samples at specified time points for rust, blistering, peeling, or other signs of corrosion. Record the test results.

6. Final Evaluation

After the test, the samples are subjected to a final inspection and evaluation, and a test report is generated.

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How are ASTM B117 test results evaluated?

After the salt spray test, users typically check the corrosion condition of the sample surface, including:

  • Red Rust: This shows corrosion of the substrate, which usually means that the protective coating has failed.
  • White rust: It’s a common early corrosion phenomenon found in metal coatings such as galvanized layers.
  • Blistering: Bubbling appears on the coating surface, which is usually related to coating failure.
  • Pitting: Localized corrosion on the material surface that creates small holes or cavities.
  • Pitting: Small holes or pits formed by localized corrosion on the surface of a material.
  • Corrosion Area: The extent of corrosion is assessed by the percentage or degree of corrosion in the affected area.
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How are ASTM B117 test results evaluated

ASTM B117 Test Duration

ASTM B117 itself does not specify a fixed test duration. The actual testing cycle is usually determined based on the product type, material, surface treatment method, and customer or industry requirements.

Common salt spray test durations include 24, 48, 96, 240, 500, and longer. The longer the testing time, the more rigorous the product’s corrosion resistance verification usually needs to be.

Different applications, such as automotive parts, fasteners, coating products, and marine equipment, may require different test durations.

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ASTM B117 vs ISO 9227

Item ASTM B117 ISO 9227
Issuing Organization ASTM International International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
Application Scope Widely used in North America and global industrial applications Widely used in international markets, especially Europe and other regions
Test Types Mainly Neutral Salt Spray (NSS) Neutral Salt Spray (NSS), Acetic Acid Salt Spray (AASS), Copper Accelerated Acetic Acid Salt Spray (CASS)
NSS Available Available
AASS Not included Available
CASS Not included Available
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