Orrosion Testing Equipment - Essay Example

Due Key Words: Salt Spray Test, Metal, materials, Corrosion, Effects, Weather, Atmosphere, Conditions, Chambers, A briefdescription of corrosion testing equipment Corrosion is a hazard in the working of tools of various kinds. The standard method of testing the resistance of corrosion on coated materials is the salt spray testing (Marti et al 51). The testing machine has descriptions that enable it to undertake diverse functions by use of a testing chamber. In this place, there is a solution of sodium chloride with a concentration of 5%. The solution ensures different parts exposed to it come in contact to severe corrosion effects. This implies this solution produces a corrosive atmosphere in the chamber. The accepted standard of testing chambers according to the international standards on salt sprays test (ISSST) is four hundred liters. Alternatively, some other solutions can also be applicable when testing corrosion. The test that applies 5% NaCl is the neutral salt spray whereby other solutions appropriate for this chamber include acetic acid. With the use of this solution, the name of the method of testing is acetic salt spray. The other solution that can apply in this case is acetic acid mixed with of copper chloride, which is one of the known corrosion tester is the Q-FOG cyclic corrosion testers. Designs of these instruments vary according to their capability of chambers. They also vary based on the various environments to which they have to operate. Figure 1: An example of a Q-FOQ cyclic corrosion tester. Results or testing of this machine is similar to those of an outdoor testing, which most of the salt spray testers have failed to deliver. The purpose and application of the corrosion testing equipment The desire to maintain use and existence of different machines is a concern for numerous engineering industries. They attempt to prefer using their materials not only in an efficient way but also to ensure long-term usage of their products. This field uses various metallic instruments that are either ferrous or non-ferrous. What stands in the use of these metallic instruments is the fact that they are subject to attack by varied weather conditions. These conditions include humidity, basic solutions, gasses, and acids. The main purpose of these elements is to initiate the effect of corrosion on metallic materials. Therefore, producers of these metallic materials find it necessary to choose an ascertained coating material for the different elements. The quality control that applies during production of various metallic instruments is also essential in the present era. This calls for corrosion testing instruments that apply in the global field. This is because they help in identifying the corrosion element that exists for a metal, which is essential in providing users with longevity of their respective metallic materials. Various tests performed by the corrosion testers Many tests can apply in investigating corrosion in different metals. These tests vary depending on the variables involved, for instance, weather conditions and machine’s specifications. The humidity test is one of the common tests in the field of corrosion. In the corrosion testers, this takes place in the humidity cabinets that are airtight and moisture proof (Prateepasen & Jirarungsatian E11). The chamber also has an average temperature of 100 degrees. The purpose of this test is to determine whether the oxidative attack has begun on a given metal. In this case, the person taking the test searches for any appearance of a blister with the intention of knowing whether an attack has already began on a given metal. Another category of corrosion testing is the salt spray tests. In this case, the sizes of chambers may have standards according to given specifications. Chambers in this case have large sizes as compared to those used when taking humidity tests. The other tests include immersion tests, impact tests, outdoor exposure tests besides others. The tests mainly focus on eliminating effects of corrosion that may attack any metal without prior knowledge. In performing corrosion tests, there are numerous factors, which engineers ought to ensure in their quest to have realizable results. These embrace principles of corrosion testing, shape of the specimen, direction, amount of shelter and contamination levels, which are necessary considerations when evaluating tests’ results as well as possible atmospheric effects on any given material (Johan et al. 3). For example, the shape of the specimen should always be cylindrical. In this case, they receive positioning in a horizontal direction. Additionally, they face the similar direction as the panel involved in the operation. To add on this, they may have a full exposure to weather or they might receive some little shelter. Mostly, this depends on tests results obtained though earlier stated considerations must apply in corrosion testing in order to ensure that appropriate test out comes. Measurement of corrosion Corrosion testing instrument can utilize various units in ensuring its results’ accuracy. Measurements mostly used employ factors pertaining to corrosion activities. This is encompasses testing machines measuring corrosion by ascertaining exact loss in weight per unit time. This establishes the amount of weight lost due to the effects of corrosion activities. Additionally, the dynamics in the tensile strength also shows the level of corrosion that occurs to a metallic substance. Similarly, testing instruments can also investigate the amount of time remaining so that a metal is about to break. Hence, give both effects and extent of corrosion on a given metal under study. Other essential and effective methods for ascertaining both effects and extent of corrosion embrace, The amount of time to perforation on different metals The amount of time remaining to complete rusting of a metal Ductility Limitations of corrosion testing machines There are some limits associated with the use of corrosion testing machines. These include exposure to hash environmental conditions, for instance, hash materials like acids that accelerate corrosion. In as much as the machine is trying to maintain the other machines to be effective, the equipment itself cannot withstand the test of time. Another central disadvantage of this machine is that varied weather conditions do not allow it to perform effectively under certain atmospheric alterations. This shows lack of flexibility in the workings of the corrosion testing machines. Weather affects the way the machine operates hence making it unreliable under certain circumstances. Conclusion There are many instruments used in measuring corrosion and its effects, which engineers have cited to be the most challenging aspect in their field not only in curbing it but also how to ascertain once it attacks materials. This reduces duration, which a machine can take while it is still operating. The rising standards by users of these machines prompt manufacturers to come up with an efficient way of producing quality instruments. Hence, turning to be creative in fabricating effective machines that will appropriately serve the intended purpose of ensuring users are capable of ascertaining the onset of corrosion. Work cited Johan Tidblad, et al. "Atmospheric Corrosion." International Journal Of Corrosion (2012): 1-3. Computers & Applied Sciences Complete. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. Marti, Peter, et al. "Temporary Corrosion Protection and Bond of Prestressing Steel." ACI Structural Journal 105.1 (2008): 51-67 Prateepasen, A., and C. Jirarungsatian. "Implementation of Acoustic Emission Source Recognition for Corrosion Severity Prediction." Corrosion 67.5 (2011): E1-E11 Read More