In a world where sustainability and long-lasting product performance are becoming increasingly important, corrosion resistance plays a crucial role in the assessment of materials and coatings. At MME Group, we are committed to ensuring the corrosion resistance of materials. Our Metallurgical Laboratory conducts various tests to evaluate the sensitivity of materials, including the NSS (Neutral Salt Spray) Salt Spray Test. This testing method allows us to examine and assess the quality and durability of coatings and metal surfaces.
The salt spray test assists in selecting materials and coatings that contribute to reduced maintenance, longer lifespan, and ultimately a lower environmental impact. This is especially important for sectors such as the shipping, offshore, automotive, aerospace and construction industries, where protecting metal surfaces against corrosion is crucial. Thus, the salt spray test provides valuable insights for designers, manufacturers, and sustainability experts who strive for robust, future-proof solutions.
However, the NSS Salt Spray Test is not intended to predict how long it will actually take for corrosion to occur in practice. The salt spray test is also conducted to check stainless steel products for iron contamination (as an alternative to, for example, the Ferroxyl test) and to verify whether laser markings cause corrosion. In this case, the test duration is short, typically around 48 hours.
ISO 9227 is a widely used international standard that defines the conditions and procedures for salt spray tests. This standard provides a standardized method for conducting the test, ensuring that the results are comparable worldwide. The test according to ISO 9227 is carried out as follows:
The advantage of the salt spray test is that it allows for an assessment of corrosion resistance within a relatively short period. Although predictions about real-life scenarios cannot be made based on the test results, it does provide a way to compare materials and coatings with each other.
By choosing MME Group, you opt for a multidisciplinary specialist with decades of experience in Inspection, Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), and Corrosion Prevention. Additionally, MME Group has a Metallurgical Laboratory for determining material properties.
The salt spray test can be utilized as part of quality control. For instance, we have customers who take samples from large batches of stainless steel products. These randomly selected products are exposed to the salt spray for 2x24 hours and are then visually assessed. The acceptance criterion is that no brown corrosion products should be observed.
In another project, we subjected piston rods from hydraulic cylinders to the salt spray test. Various (hard) chrome-plated piston rods of different material types and suppliers were tested to determine which piston rod remained free from corrosion damage for the longest time.
Please contact us if you would like to know more about the possibilities of the NSS Salt Spray Test.
