Ascott Analytical, UK
Testing climate resistance to the limit
For more than 25 years Ascott Analytical has been leading the way in the design, manufacture and delivery of innovative and high quality corrosion test chambers. During this time they have been selected to supply many well-known customers throughout the world and, in doing so, have established an international reputation for themselves as the brand to be trusted. For additional information, please contact Novasys, go to our download section, or visit Ascott’s website at http://www.ascott-analytical.com/
Salt Spray Corrosion Test Chambers
Salt spray (also known as salt fog or salt mist) continues to be the corrosion test of choice for comparing actual product performance with expectations – usually in accordance with international test standards. This is, therefore, a very popular test for quality auditing.
Ascott salt spray test chambers are offered in two model ranges: Standard & Premium.
Standard
models are designed for continuous salt spray tests, conducted at a single user-adjustable temperature, such as ASTM B117, ISO 9227, JIS Z 2371 etc.
They may be used with pH neutral salt solutions (NSS) or test solutions acidified by the addition of Acetic Acid (ASS) or Cupric Acid (CASS).
Premium models can perform the same basic salt spray tests as Standard models, but in addition are equipped with extra features which enable them to undertake ‘modified’ tests such as ASTM G85.
Here conventional salt spray is usually combined with one other climate, in a two-part cycle. For example: salt spray and condensation humidity (SWAAT) or salt spray and drying (PROHESION).
Cyclic Corrosion Test (CCT) Chambers
Ascott CCT chambers are designed to be flexible enough to comply with as many different CCT specifications as possible. As standard they come with the ability to create 4 distinct climates:
1. Salt spray
2. Condensation humidity (wetting)
3. Air drying
4. Controlled humidity.
These may be programmed to occur in any sequence and be repeated automatically. A wide range of optional accessories enable additional climates to be added to further extend the number of climates and conditions that can be created.
Graph showing standard range of temperature/humidity control for a CCT chamber and how this may be extended by the addition of optional accessories.
All Ascott cyclic corrosion test chambers feature:
• ‘Easy Open’ pneumatically operated canopy.
• Dry seal gasket prevents wetting operator’s clothes, etc.
• Low loading threshold for loading and unloading.
• Canopy color choice.
• Interior viewing window (unless refrigeration option is supplied).
• Automatic purge of the chamber interior before opening.
• Set of sample racks and a separate salt solution reservoir.
• Touch-screen, full color user control interface, using intuitive
icons for ease of programming and use.
• RJ45 communications port for connection to a local area
network (LAN) for logging and remote programming via a
computer running optional Ascott software (ACC120).
• A real-time, user configurable ‘clock’ to enable different test
samples to have their exposure time monitored separately, with
alarms to warn when preset test times have been completed.
• A large capacity memory for complex multi-step test
programmes to be programmed and stored, so that a wide
range of different test profiles can be undertaken.
Atmosfär Test Chambers
Atmosfär chambers have been specifically designed for fully automatic testing in accordance with highly demanding laboratory- accelerated corrosion tests which have become increasingly popular in some sectors of the automotive industry.
These tests are cyclic in nature and comprise of exposure under controlled and varying conditions of temperature and humidity, with intermittent spraying of a salt solution directly on to the samples under test, from a high level swaying spray bar.
Such tests include:
Ford CETP 00.00-L-467
Volvo VCS 1027,149 (ACT-1)
Volvo VCS 1027,1449 (ACT-2)
Volvo STD 423-0014
Volvo STD 1027,1375
ISO 16701
Scania STD 4319
For added flexibility, Atmosfär chambers also retain the ability to perform conventional salt spray tests and Cyclic Corrosion Tests (CCT) in accordance with a wide range of international test standards.
