IEC 60068-2-52:2017 has superseded IEC 60038-2-52:1996 as of 17 November 2017, with the new standard harmonised with ISO 9227 “Corrosion tests in artificial atmospheres — Salt spray tests” as far as possible.

Salt Spray Chamber
Salt Spray Chamber

While there have been some additions and changes to the language used in defining the introduction, scope and references, the major changes are as follows:

The general descriptions of the tests have changed

In the 1996 version the salt mist tests were defined from Severities 1 to 6.

Severities 1 and 2 were separated into a specified number of periods of spraying by salt mist at a temperature of 35°C±10°C, each followed by a storage period under humid conditions at 40°C±2°C, 90 – 95 % RH.

Severities 3 to 6 were separated into a specific number of test cycles. Each test cycle consisted of four periods of salt mist spraying at a temperature of 35°C±10°C, each followed by a storage period under humid conditions at 40°C±2°C, 90 – 95 % RH and one storage period of under a standard atmosphere of 23°C±2°C and 50±5 % RH after these 4 periods of spraying and storage under humid conditions.

The new 2017 version has renamed Severities 1 to 6 to test methods 1 – 6 while also adding methods 7 and 8.

Severity 1 has now changed to Test method 1 and is now a 28 day test

(4 x 7 day cycles {2 hrs spray + 6 days 22 hrs humidity})

Severity 2 is now changed to Test method 2, but remains the same 3 day test

(3 x 24 hour cycles {2 hrs salt spray + 22 hrs humidity})

Severity 3 is now changed to Test method 3, but remains the same 7 day test (1 cycle)

(4 x 24 hour cycles {2 hrs salt spray + 22 hrs humidity} + 3 Days at controlled SLC’s)

Severity 4 is now changed to Test method 4, but remains the same 14 day test (2 cycles)

Severity 5 is now changed to Test method 5, but remains the same 28 day test (4 cycles)

Severity 6 is now changed to Test method 6, but remains the same 56 day test (8 cycles)

Test method 7 is a new test with 8 hour cycles with a selection of the durations; 1 day (3 cycles), 2 days (6 cycles), 4 days (12 cycles), 10 days (30 cycles), 15 days (45 cycles), 20 days (60 cycles), 30 days (90 cycles), 50 days (150 cycles) and 60 days (180 cycles)

(1 x 8 hr cycle {2 hrs salt spray + 4 hrs dry condition + 2 hrs humid condition}) with the following allowed transition times:

  • Salt mist to dry condition: within 30 min or between 30 and 60 mins
  • Dry condition to humid condition: within 15 min or between 15 and 30 min
  • Humid condition to salt mist: within 30 minutes

Test method 8 is the same as Test method 7 but using an acidified salt solution instead of a neutral salt solution

There is now a flow chart included in the standard identifying the parameters required for each of the above mentioned Test methods.

Austest Laboratories is accredited for testing to the old and new versions of this standard.  A copy of our complete accreditation scope can be downloaded here for Sydney and here for Melbourne.  Adelaide accreditation will be added shortly.

Contact us here for new requests covering salt mist testing and other Environmental tests.