Environmental Testing for the Automotive Industry:


Environmental tests are conducted to examine and evaluate the behavior, propensity, and extent of resistance of certain materials to corrosive agents.  Most tests feature an accelerated corrosion that produces a corrosive attack to coated samples in order to evaluate the suitability of the coating for use as a protective finish.   Using industry wide specifications from ASTM, SAE, ISO and many more, ITS can accommodate wheels, wheel sections, caps and trim pieces, paint samples and fasteners in our test chambers.

Environmental Test Specifications

Salt Spray

  • ASTM B117
  • ASTM G85
  • ABNT 6750
  • ABNT 6751
  • ISO 9227
  • GMW4298P
  • GMW3286
  • GMW15288
  • Ford FLTM BI 3-1
  • Ford FLTM BI 103-01
  • Ford FLTM BI-15288
  • USCAR 1-2012
  • Toyota TSH 1552G

Cass

  • ASTM B368
  • ABNT NBR 6752
  • ISO 9227
  • GMW4476P
  • GMW14458
  • Ford FLTM BI 105-01

Water Fog

  • ASTM D3175
  • ABNT NBR 6750
  • ABNT NBR 6751
  • Ford FLTM BI 104-01
  • Chrysler LP-463PB-09-01

Gravelometer

  • ASTM D3170
  • SAE J400
  • GMW9508P
  • GMW14700
  • PF-3834
  • WSS-M2P122

Filiform Corrosion

  • ASTM D2803
  • ASTM D1735
  • ASTM D2247
  • SAE J2635
  • ISP 4623
  • GMW9450
  • GMW14728
  • GMW15287
  • GMW14885
  • GMW15288
  • WSSM2P122

Salt Spray (or Salt Fog):

Environmental Testing - Independent Test Services - salt-spray

A popular and standardized corrosion test method is used to check corrosion resistance of materials and surface coatings.  Typically, a sample is placed in a closed test chamber where a salt water solution produces a corrosive environment of dense salt water fog in the chamber so that the test samples exposed to this environment are subjected to severely corrosive conditions.


CASS Test (Copper Accelerated Acetic Acid Salt Spray):

Environmental Testing - Independent Test Services - cass
Environmental Testing - Independent Test Services - cass2

This test method is for evaluating the corrosive performance of decorative copper/nickel/chromium or nickel/chromium coatings on steel, zinc alloys, aluminum alloys, and plastics designed for severe service.  Similar to Salt Spray, a sample is placed in a closed chamber and immersed in a salt fog with the addition of reagent grade copper chloride dehydrate to accelerate the corrosion process.  


Filiform Testing:

Environmental Testing - Independent Test Services - filiform
Environmental Testing - Independent Test Services - Scribing-2
Scribing Filiform Panels (Above)

Filiform corrosion is a special form of corrosion that occurs under some thin coatings in the form of randomly distributed threadlike filaments.   Wheels and wheel parts are exposed to the same type of corrosion that is found in the field to establish the performance of the material and finish.   Typically, a sample is scribed so that the substrate is exposed before being placed in a CASS chamber for preconditioning before being placed in a Filiform test chamber to see if filaments develop from the substrate.  


Water Fog:

Environmental Testing - Independent Test Services - water-fog
Environmental Testing - Independent Test Services - water-fog2

This practice is for testing water resistance of coatings in an apparatus similar to that used in salt spray testing.  Water can cause degradation of coatings so coated specimens are placed in an enclosed chamber to permit free settling of fog on all specimens.  This sample is left in the chamber while water permeates the coating to see if color change, blisters, loss of adhesion, softening, or embrittlement are observed.  


Gravelometer:

Environmental Testing - Independent Test Services - gravelometer

This test method evaluates a coating’s resistance to chipping damage.  Standardized gravel is projected at a sample to simulate a wheel or trim piece in service when faced with flying stones, gravel, or other road debris.