Corrosion is an insidious issue. A metal part or component could look perfectly sound on the outside while corrosion is quietly weakening it from within. By the time the effects of corrosion are visible to the naked eye, real damage is often already done. Left undetected, corrosion can significantly shorten the service life of a part, compromise performance, and even contribute to catastrophic failure.
This is why corrosion testing is so critical for parts and materials used in industries such as aviation and aerospace, civil infrastructure, oil and gas, and manufacturing.
What Causes Corrosion?
Put simply, corrosion is the degradation of a metal due to a reaction with its environment. Corrosion can occur due to a variety of factors, including:
- Moisture
- Temperature and humidity
- Salt or chemical exposure
- Failure of protective coatings
- Manufacturing processes, such as heat treatment
Because a material could be exposed to several of these factors throughout its lifecycle, corrosion is not always uniform or predictable. It takes expert testing and inspection to not only reveal corrosion, but understand what conditions allowed it to develop in the first place.
What is Corrosion Testing?
Corrosion testing is a type of metallurgical screening used to determine the susceptibility of the material to intergranular corrosion. Some methods can simulate conditions in a short period that might otherwise affect the material over years. The results help determine whether a metal is suitable for a particular application while identifying potential vulnerabilities that could lead to corrosion down the line.
American Testing Services offers corrosion screening and testing for many grades of stainless steel in accordance with widely recognized ASTM standard A262.
When is Corrosion Testing Used?
Corrosion testing can provide valuable information throughout the lifecycle of a metal part or component.
- Material Selection — Metallurgical testing, including corrosion testing, gives engineers and manufacturers the knowledge they need to make smarter decisions about materials, coatings, and processes.
- Failure Root Cause Analysis — Combined with other types of metallurgy, corrosion testing can help determine the conditions, processes, and factors that led to failure.
- Managing Future Risk — Knowing how, why, when, and where corrosion occurs helps inform future decisions about material selection, maintenance schedules, operating conditions, and other procedures. The more you know, and the sooner you know it, the better you can prevent future issues.
What Kind of Industries Rely On Corrosion Testing?
Many types of industries rely on corrosion testing for products and materials that are exposed to demanding environments, including:
- Aerospace and aviation: Aircraft and related components, including aircraft propellers.
- Civil infrastructure: Bridges, water systems, and roadways.
- Manufacturing: Any product that is exposed to harsh chemicals, weather, or heavy loads.
- Oil and gas: Massive pipelines and offshore equipment.
Test Now. Save Headaches Later.
If your parts or components must withstand harsh or corrosive conditions during the manufacturing process or in the field, corrosion testing can help identify potential risks before they lead to premature deterioration or failure. Corrosion testing is one of many metallurgical testing methods we deploy at American Testing Services to help our customers uncover potential vulnerabilities and protect long-term performance. Ready to schedule corrosion testing for your critical parts or components? Get in touch with American Testing Services today.