Corrosion Resistance Testing

Corrosion also known as degradation of material is the disintegration of a material at its micro constituent

level due to chemical reactions with its surroundings environment. The most common example of corrosion is rusting of iron. There are several modes and forms of corrosion and its mechanism. Corrosion resistance is the ability of a material to withstand particular type of environment without disintegration or degradation. Corrosion resistance can be improved by addition of alloying elements (stainless steels) , by application of protective coatings (galvanising) or connecting less noble material (anodising or cathodic protection) to the component to be protected. see Corosion Resistance Test LMATS performs regularly corrosion resistance tests in accordance with ASTM G48, ASTM G28, ASTM A923, ASTM A262, AS 2038, AS 2331.3.1, AS 2345, ASTM B117, ASTM A380, NACE, EXXON Mobil and ESSO Shell specification. Some of the commonly used industrial terminologies for these tests are: Pitting corrosion test Crevice corrosion test Intergranular corrosion test G48 test Copper Sulphate test Ferric Chloride test Nitric acid boiling test Neutral Salt Spray test Dezincification test Ferroxyl test High humidity test Resistance to Hydrogen Sulphide H2S cracking such as Sulphide stress cracking SSC Stress oriented Hydrogen Induced Cracking SOHIC Hydrogen Induced Cracking HIC Step Wise Cracking SWC Soft Zone Cracking SZC etc.

Pitting Corrosion Resistance Test

LMATS is NATA accredited to perform pitting corrosion resistance test in accordance with ASTM G48, ASTM A923, and similar standards.

This method is also referred as ferric chloride test in the general industry.

Crevice Corrosion Resistance Test

LMATS is NATA accredited to perform crevice corrosion resistance test in accordance with ASTM G48, ASTM A923, and similar standards. This method is also referred as ferric chloride test in the general industry.

Intergranular Corrosion Resistance Test

LMATS is NATA accredited to perform intergranular corrosion resistance test in accordance with ASTM G28, ASTM A262, AS 2038 and similar standards. There are 6 different test methods utilising different chemicals and test conditions. The most common method is Practice E also referred as copper-copper sulphate in the general industry.

Nitric Acid boiling Test

LMATS is NATA accredited to perform intergranular corrosion resistance test in accordance with ASTM A262, AS 2038 and similar standards. ASTM A262 Practice C also referred as nitric acid test is used for special purpose applications in the general industry.

Neutral Salt Spray Test

A neutral salt spray test (NSS) is performed to determine qualitative resistance to corrosive attack on the products surface.

This test is commonly employed on protective coated products. AS 2331.3.1 and ASTM B117 specifies particular testing requirements for salt spray test. Coatings are exposed to a corrosive atmosphere under controlled conditions for different durations. Resistance to corrosive attack is used to assess the quality of the coating against the conditions of the test. Contact LMATS Melbourne and Sydney staff for your neutral salt spray test or corrosion resistance test.

Passivation Confirmation Test

Passivation is the process by which a stainless steel will spontaneously form a chemically inactive oxide film on the surface when exposed to air or other oxygen-containing environments provided that the surface has been thoroughly cleaned or descaled. Removal of exogenous iron or iron compounds from the surface of a stainless steel by means of a chemical dissolution, most typically by a treatment with mild oxidant such as a nitric acid solution that will remove the surface contamination but will not significantly affect the stainless steel itself is part of the passivation process. The chemical treatment will enhance the spontaneous formation of the protective passive film. Before, during or after passivation the components are often contaminated with unacceptable material that may impair the normal corrosion resistance. LMATS performs contamination test to detect unacceptable free iron, oxide, scale, rust, grease, oil, carbonaceous or other residual chemical

films, soil, particles, metal chips, dirt, or other non-volatile deposits in accordance with ASTM A380 Section 7 and ASTM A967. LMATS holds proven procedures for High Humidity test, Black light test, Salt Spray test and NATA accreditation in Copper Sulphate test and Ferroxyl test in accordance with ASTM A967 Practice D, EXXON Mobil and ESSO Shell specification.

Ferroxyl Test Contamination test

LMATS is NATA accredited to perform Ferroxyl test in accordance with ASTM A380 and ASTM A967. This test is a highly sensitive test and should be performed when no traces of free iron or iron oxide is acceptable on the Passivated items. The test can be used on stainless steel to detect iron contamination, including iron-tool marks, residual-iron salts from pickling solutions, iron dust, iron deposits in welds, embedded iron or iron oxide, etc. Due to the use of Potassium Ferricynide this test method cannot be employed in the food industry. Contact LMATS Melbourne or Sydney laboratory staff for your ferroxyl test or contamination detection test or corrosion resistance test.

Copper Sulphate Test

LMATS is NATA accredited to perform Copper Sulphate test in accordance with ASTM A380. This method is recommended for the detection of metallic iron or iron oxide on the surface of austenitic 200 and 300 Series, the precipitation hardening alloys, and the ferritic 400 Series stainless steels containing 16% chromium or more. It is not recommended for the martensitic and lower chromium ferritic stainless steels of the 400 Series since the test will show a positive reaction on these materials. This test cannot be applied to surfaces of items to be used in food processing.

High Humidity Test

This test is used for the detection of free iron or any other anodic surface contaminants on stainless steel. The test is performed in a humidity cabinet capable of maintaining 973% humidity 38%3C for a minimum of 24 hours. The test sample is acceptable if there is no evidence of rust stains or other corrosion products after completion of the test. High Humidity test is performed in accordance with ASTM A380 and ASTM A967.

NACE Hydrogen Induced Cracking Test

There are several types of tests to determine exact type of corrosion resistance property of any material. Some of the examples are resistance to Hydrogen Sulphide H2S cracking such as Sulphide stress cracking (SSC) , Stress oriented Hydrogen Induced Cracking (SOHIC), Hydrogen Induced Cracking (HIC), Step Wise Cracking (SWC), Soft Zone Cracking (SZC) etc. The tests are performed in accordance with ISO 15156 NACE MR0175. Before these tests can be commenced, information such as material type/grade, shape, final form, field H2S pressure, pH values or clients specification such as Region 1, 2 or 3 is required.