Salt Fog Testing Capabilities at Keystone Compliance

Keystone Compliance operates two separate Salt Fog chambers. Our large chamber is the largest Salt Fog chamber manufactured and has an inside dimension of 8’ x 4’ x 4’. Our smaller unit is a medium sized chamber with inside dimensions of 5’ x 4’ x 4’. These chambers are capable of slat fog, salt mist, and salt laden tests as described in most popular test specifications.

Salt Fog Testing Equipment at Keystone Compliance

Two (2) Salt Fog chambers.
One large chamber measuring 8’ x 4’ x 4’.
One medium chamber measuring 5’ x 4’ x 4’

Salt Fog Testing Overview

Salt-fog testing, per MIL-STD 810 Method 509.4, determines the corrosion resistance of materials and impact of introducing a humid, salty solution on electrical components. Typical problems brought about by salt fog are:

Corrosion Effects

  • Corrosion due to electrochemical reaction.
  • Accelerated stress corrosion.
  • Formation of acidic/alkaline solutions following salt ionization in water.

Electrical Effects

  • Impairment of electrical materiel due to salt deposits.
  • Production of conductive coatings.
  • Corrosion of insulating materials and metals.

Physical Effects

  • Clogging or binding of moving parts of mechanical components and assemblies.
  • Blistering of paint as a result of electrolysis.

The most common coatings tested are steel, brass and zamak. The salt-fog test essentially tests corrosion resistance through an accelerated process within a salt-fog chamber. The chamber controls the amount of salt-fog, concentration of salt and pH. Different coatings have different behaviors and require different types of testing with varying durations.

Salt Fog Testing Specifications

  • ASTM G85 – 09 Standard Practice for Modified Salt Spray (Fog) Testing
  • Annex A1, acetic acid-salt spray test, continuous
  • Annex A2, cyclic acidified salt spray test
  • Annex A3, seawater acidified test, cyclic (SWAAT)
  • Annex A4, SO2 salt spray test, cyclic
  • Annex A5, dilute electrolyte cyclic fog dry test
  • ASTM B117 – 09 Standard Practice for Operating Salt Spray (Fog) Apparatus
  • EN 50155 Section 10.2.10 Salt-Fog
  • ISO 9227:2006 Corrosion tests in artificial atmospheres — Salt spray tests
  • ISO 12944-6:1998 Paints and varnishes — Corrosion protection of steel structures by protective paint systems — Part 6: Laboratory performance test methods
  • MIL-STD-202 Method 101 Salt-Fog
  • MIL-STD-810 Method 509.4 Salt-Fog
  • MIL-STD-883 Method 1009 Salt-Fog
  • MIL-STD-1344 Section 1001 Salt-Fog
  • RTCA/DO 160 Section 14 Salt-Fog