Auto Technology Company

Do you have any data on field reliability for your chambers?

There is extensive real-world reliability data, and it is one of the strongest differentiators of our equipment. Our chambers are used daily in our accredited corrosion lab, running harsh OEM cyclic tests like GMW 14872 and Ford L-467. Many customers—including Toyota, Honda, Tesla, Magna, ZF, Denso, Valeo, Bosch, Boeing, and numerous Tier-1 suppliers—run our chambers 24/7. A significant portion of our installed base has been in service 15–25 years with only routine preventive maintenance. Legacy Harshaw units from the 1980s and 1990s still operate after simple refurbishment.

What is a Salt Spray Test?

The salt spray test, including ASTM B117 and ISO 9227, exposes materials to a controlled salt fog. It is one of the most widely recognized accelerated corrosion tests.

Is there a difference between Salt Spray and Salt Fog?

In the context of ASTM B117, the terms salt spray and salt fog are interchangeable and refer to the same continuous spray environment.

What is ASTM B117?

ASTM B117 defines the equipment, solution, temperature, and exposure conditions used for valid salt spray corrosion testing.

Does ASTM B117 control humidity inside a salt spray chamber?

ASTM B117 does not specify relative humidity directly. Instead, the standard controls the chamber environment through cabinet temperature, atomizing air conditioning, and controlled salt fog generation. In most salt spray chambers, humidity can be estimated using a combination of wet bulb temperature and chamber air temperature. Auto Technology chambers include a wet bulb thermometer and exposed RTD temperature measurement, allowing operators to monitor chamber conditions and estimate humidity while maintaining the controlled fog environment required by ASTM B117.

Who uses salt fog chambers?

Automotive, aerospace, marine, military, coatings, and industrial laboratories rely on salt fog chambers for corrosion durability testing.

How long should an ASTM B117 test run?

Typical exposures range from 24 to 96 hours for coatings screening to more than 1,000 hours for qualification work.

Why does ASTM B117 say a solution of 2% to 6% gives the same results? Does a salt solution below 4% still comply with ASTM B117?

Section 8 of ASTM B117 states that the salt solution shall be prepared as 5 ± 1 parts by mass of sodium chloride in 95 parts of water. Table 1 and its notes establish an acceptable measured solution concentration range of 4.0% to 6.0% at 25 degrees C. Informational language in the appendix and notes discussing 2% to 6% solution behavior does not override the mandatory operating limits in Section 8 and Table 1. From a compliance standpoint, a salt solution measured below 4.0% at 25 degrees C would fall outside the specified operating limits of ASTM B117.