Although there are numerous methods of slowing down corrosion, thorough testing of components often remains essential. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF have now created a new salt paste. This consists of ingredients such as a superabsorber, wool wax, fatty alcohols and salts. By using established raw materials and natural components, the salt paste reduces the consumption of resources and energy. It can be adapted to a variety of test scenarios and delivers comparable results to the traditional salt spray test. The new salt paste is well suited for rapid screening in material selection and material development. In addition to classic salt corrosion, acidic or alkaline conditions can also be simulated, for example.
Disadvantages of salt spray tests
Salt spray tests are of crucial importance in the automotive and aviation industries, for example, in order to assess corrosion resistance. The products are placed in a chamber in which a salty solution is sprayed as a mist to create accelerated corrosion conditions. The results of these tests provide information about product life and reliability. However, these tests require large amounts of salt solution and lead to complete corrosion of the entire component and test stand. In addition, factors such as pH value, temperature and concentration play an important role.