Where required TD Finishing can advise on and provide equipment for powder coating products that are required to withstand up to 1,000-hour salt spray testing.
Salt spray testing is a standardised method of testing corrosion resistance across a variety of materials and surface coatings. The testing apparatus used accelerates the corrosion of materials through the creation of a hostile environment within the test chamber. It achieves this by atomising saltwater into a mist.
The corrosive attack on coated samples is timed and periodically checked. Coatings offering better corrosion resistance will be expected to last longer before showing signs of deterioration and rust.
Salt Spray Testing
Typically for Aluminium coating including for Qualicoat approval a series of dip-tanks for pre-treatment. It will include a combination of caustic/acid etch, towns rinse, Demin rinses and non-chrome treatment.
For contract powder coating and OEM manufacturers of mild steel components, there is an increasing trend of non-chrome conversion coatings utilising a multi-stage spray system with a series of cleaner, conversion coating and Demin rinses.
What are the Benefits of Salt Spray Testing?
Salt spray testing is reliable, quick, repeatable and very well standardised. It makes it a popular benchmark for the testing of corrosion resistance of coatings. Although it’s not a perfect representation of real-life corrosive environments. It also does not account for U.V, degradation of powder coatings for example.
It is however long-established and quick. This means it can be used to predict corrosion resistance. Not only this, but to ensure continued quality control of a pre-treatment and coating process.
Shorter tests can be carried out during production to ensure each batch has been treated correctly and the complete finishing system is working as designed.
More Details
If you would like more details on how TD Finishing can provide your process line better results, increased productivity and increase your profitability, and guarantee a more premium finish.
Contact us for to arrange a consultation, call us on – 0121 520 8884 or email us at – [email protected].
