AS 60068.2.

52—2003
IEC 60068-2-52:1996
AS 60068.2.52

Australian Standard™
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Environmental testing

Part 2.52: Tests—Test Kb: Salt mist,

cyclic (sodium chloride solution)
 This Australian Standard was prepared by Committee EL-026, Protective
Enclosures and Environmental Testing for Electrical/Electronic Equipment. It was
approved on behalf of the Council of Standards Australia on 17 April 2003 and
published on 19 June 2003.

The following are represented on Committee EL-026:

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturer’s Association
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Electrical Compliance Testing Association

Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council
Electricity Supply Association of Australia
Testing Interests (Australia)

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This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 02606.

 AS 60068.2.52—2003

Australian Standard™
This is a free 7 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

Environmental testing

Part 2.52: Tests—Test Kb: Salt mist,

cyclic (sodium chloride solution)

First published as AS 60068.2.52—2003.

COPYRIGHT
© Standards Australia International
All rights are reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without the written permission of the
publisher.
Published by Standards Australia International Ltd
GPO Box 5420, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia
ISBN 0 7337 5280 2
 ii

PREFACE

This Standard was prepared by the Standards Australia Committee EL-026, Protective
Enclosures and Environmental Testing for Electrical/Electronic Equipment.
The objective of this Standard is to provide the electrotechnology industry with a complete set
of environmental test procedures published as a series under AS 60068 Environmental testing.
This Standard is Part 2.52 of that series.
This Standard is identical with, and has been reproduced from, IEC 60068-2-52:1996,
Environmental testing – Part 2-52: Tests—Test Kb: Salt mist, cyclic (sodium chloride solution).
As this Standard is reproduced from an International Standard, the following applies:
(a) Its number does not appear on each page of text and its identity is shown only on the
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cover and title page.

(b) In the source text ‘this international standard’ should read ‘this Australian Standard’.
(c) A full point should be substituted for a comma when referring to a decimal marker.
(d) Any French text on figures should be ignored.
In this Standard, the following print types are used:
– requirements proper: in arial type ;
– test specifications: in italic type;
– explanatory matter: in smaller arial type.

Any international Standard referenced should be replaced by an equivalent Australian Standard

when one is available. The availability of equivalent Australian Standards can be determined
either from the Standards Australia catalogue or from the Standards Australia website
(www.standards.com.au).
 iii

CONTENTS

Page

1 Scope ...............................................................................................................................1
2 Normative references .......................................................................................................2
3 General description of the test ..........................................................................................2
4 Test apparatus .................................................................................................................2
4.1 Salt mist chamber ...................................................................................................2
4.2 Humidity chamber ...................................................................................................3
4.3 Chamber for standard atmosphere ..........................................................................3
5 Salt solution .....................................................................................................................3
5.1 5 % sodium chloride (NaCl) solution ........................................................................3
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6 Severities .........................................................................................................................4
6.1 The severity of the test is defined as follows. ..........................................................4
7 Initial measurements ........................................................................................................4
8 Preconditioning ................................................................................................................4
9 Testing .............................................................................................................................5
10 Recovery (at the end of testing)........................................................................................6
11 Final measurements .........................................................................................................6
12 Information to be given in the relevant specification .........................................................6
Figure 1 - Time-scale of the different test severities (1) to (6) .................................................7
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iv

NOTES
 1

STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Australian Standard

Environmental testing
Part 2.52: Tests—Test Kb: Salt mist, cyclic (sodium chloride solution)

1 Scope

This test is intended for application to components or equipment designed to withstand a salt-
laden atmosphere, depending on the chosen severity. Salt can degrade the performance of
parts manufactured using metallic and/or non-metallic materials.
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The mechanism of salt corrosion on metallic materials is electrochemical, whereas the

degradation effects experienced on non-metallic materials are caused by complex chemical
reactions of the salts with the materials involved. The rate at which corrosive action takes
place is dependent, to a large extent, on the supply of oxygenated salt solution to the surface
of the test specimen, the temperature of the specimen and the temperature and humidity of
the environment.

Apart from the corrosive effects, this test may be used to indicate deterioration of some non-
metallic materials by assimilation of salts. In the following test methods, the period of spraying
with the relevant salt solution is sufficient to wet the specimen thoroughly. Because this
wetting is repeated after intervals of storage under humid conditions (severities (1) and (2))
and – in some cases severities ((3) to (6)) – supplemented by storage under a standard
atmosphere for testing, it goes some way to reproducing the effects of natural environments.

Severities (1) and (2) are intended to be used for testing products which are used in a marine
environment, or in close proximity to the sea. Severity (1) should be used to test products
which are exposed to the environment for much of their operational life (e.g. ship radar, deck
equipment). Severity (2) should be used to test products which may be exposed to the marine
environment from time to time but will normally be protected by an enclosure (e.g.
navigational equipment which will normally be used on the bridge or in a control room).

Additionally, severities (1) and (2) are commonly used as a general corrosion test in
component quality assurance procedures.

Severities (3) to (6) are intended for products where, under normal use, there is a frequent
change between salt-laden and dry atmosphere, e.g. automobiles and their parts.

Severities (3) to (6), compared to severities (1) and (2), therefore include an additional
storage under a standard atmosphere for testing.

The period of dry atmosphere may happen, in practice, during breaks of operation, e.g. during
the weekend. This inclusion of such a dry period in severities (3) to (6) leads to corrosion
mechanism which can be quite different from those under constant humid conditions.

The test is accelerated compared with most service conditions. However, it is not possible to
establish an overall acceleration factor for all kinds of specimens (see IEC 60355).

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Test Kb: Salt mist, cyclic (sodium chloride
solution)
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