Resistance to Cyclic Salt Spray


BS EN 60068-2-52
IEC 68-2-52

 cyclic salt spray test cabinets

Scope and Field of Application

BS EN 60068-2-52 and IEC 68-2-52 are alternative names for the same method which is intended to measure how well components or equipment can withstand a salt-laden atmosphere. The method is designed to reproduce the corrosive effect of salt on metals where the mechanism is primarily electrochemical. It is also designed to reproduce the degradation of non-metallic materials by salt. In this case degradation is due to complex chemical reactions between salt and the materials involved.

We use this method mainly for testing electrical components and switchgear. If you need to test paints, coatings etc, you may wish to consider the salt spray or the prohesion test as possible alternatives.

Like all laboratory tests, the method described here has its advantages and limitations and these are summarised on our Testing Paints for Anti-Corrosive Properties page.

There are no pass/fail criteria defined in the standard. This is a matter of agreement between the parties concerned.

The actual standard is a copyright-protected document and we are not able to provide you with copies. If required however, you can easily obtain copies from the British Standards Institution.

 

Summary of Method

The method involves the use of two different test chambers one where the samples are exposed to salt spray and the other where they are stored under hot humid conditions. The chambers are described on our Salt Spray and our Controlled Temperature and Humidity pages.

The operating conditions of the cabinets are:-

Cabinet Operating Conditions
Salt Spray This uses a 5% aqueous solution of sodium chloride. The cabinet may be operated at any temperature between 15 and 35° C
Controlled Temperature and Humidity This is set to 40° C and 93% Relative Humidity

The test method enables samples to be tested to six different levels of severity. These are intended to replicate different service conditions . "Severity 1" for example corresponds to a marine environment in close proximity to the sea and would be appropriate for a sonar buoy or a ship's radar antenna. Severities 3 to 6 are intended for situations where there are frequent changes between salt-laden and dry atmospheres and are intended to replicate the use of vehicles on roads treated with salt during the winter months. Severities 3 to 6 include periods of storage outside the test chambers at 23° C and between 45 and 55% Relative Humidity.

Each level of severity is defined in terms of the time which the sample spends in each of the cabinets. In practice this involves alternating the sample between the salt spray and the controlled temperature / humidity cabinets with the option of storage periods at 23° C and between 45 and 55% Relative Humidity.

 

Sample Requirements

The size of any object we can test is limited by the capacity of the salt spray chamber. In practice this means that the test object must be capable of fitting inside a cube with 500 mm sides.

 

Accreditation

PRA is accredited to ISO 17025 by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to carry out this test.

 

Please contact Peter Collins for further details.

 

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