The Corrosion Laboratory (LCOR) provides testing services in line with ASTM and NBR standards for the performance assessment of metallic parts in enclosures, coated or not, which have been submitted to a period of exposure in a salt vapor atmosphere (salt spray).

In addition to the basic procedure for salt spray testing, the standards accredited by the laboratory establish assessment methods for the degree of rusting, degree of blistering and degree of detachment observed for coatings in test specimens submitted to salt spay action.

Equipment used to carry out these tests include an EQUILAM SSE 1000exp salt spray chamber, with an internal volume of 810 liters, quipped with a central tower for spray distribution.

The LCOR typically performs tests for Product Certification Agencies (OCPs) accredited by Cgcre, as well as tests to assess the performance of enclosures or metallic test specimens according to the accredited standards required by manufacturers.

In addition to assessments in line with standards accredited by the laboratory, the facility is also qualified to conduct salt spray tests in accordance with specific testing standards or procedures not included within its scope of accreditation. In such cases, a preliminary assessment is conducted of the standard or procedure for the test in question. Should the laboratory determine that the application technique for the tests indicated is viable, these may be carried out as non-accredited tests subject to prior agreement between the laboratory and the interested party.

The area occupied by the LCOR was inaugurated on November 9, 2005 in conjunction with LABELO’s complex of energy efficiency labs for household appliances, located in building 13 on the central campus of PUCRS. The following year the laboratory accredited the standards that currently make up its testing scope, providing salt spray tests to the industrial community.

Salt spary exposure tests are generally conducted based on the test procedure described in ASTM B117, which forms part of the laboratory’s accredited scope. However, it is important to underscore that this standard:

(a) only describes the equipment, procedure and conditions required for the creation and maintenance of the salt spray test environment;
(b) does not consider stipulations regarding the specimens to be tested, exposure conditions, assessment requirements to be followed or the interpretation of the results obtained.
The severity of the test, basically defined by the type of exposure (continuous or alternating) and the length of the sample’s exposure to the salt spray, as well as the requirements for its assessment after the test and other details pertaining to the sample and its preparation, are parameters that should be specified by the specific standard for the material or product submitted to testing.

Finally, these parameers should be formally defined by those seeking testing from the laboratory. Th latter is not responsible for defining any of the conditions related to performing the test or how to assess the results obtained.