Steel Corrosion Testing
Corrosion Testing for Steel Parts, Coatings, and Materials
Steel corrosion testing helps manufacturers, engineers, and quality teams evaluate the corrosion resistance of steel parts, materials, and components exposed to controlled corrosive environments.
Micom Laboratories offers corrosion testing services for various types of steel samples and components, including galvanized steel, stainless steel, and painted steel. Our services support product development, product validation, coating qualification, quality control, and premature corrosion-related investigations.
For over 25 years, our specialized materials testing laboratory has worked with companies across Canada and the United States that require reliable third-party corrosion testing.
Need to evaluate the corrosion resistance of a steel part, coating, or finished product?
Steel Corrosion Testing Methods We Test To
Steel corrosion testing methods are generally selected based on the material, coating system, industry standards, and exposure conditions the product must withstand. Depending on your project, Micom can perform corrosion tests in accordance with ASTM, ISO, or SAE standards, or customer-specific standards.
The main methods we use for steel corrosion testing are:
- ASTM B117 Salt Spray Testing: Used when a widely recognized neutral salt spray test is required for comparison, quality control, or to meet a customer specification.
- ISO 9227 Salt Spray Testing: Used when the project requires accelerated neutral salt spray (NSS), acetic acid salt spray (AASS), or copper-accelerated acetic acid salt spray (CASS) conditions under an ISO method.
- ASTM G85 Modified Salt Spray Testing: Used when the specification requires modified salt spray conditions, such as acidified, cyclic, or electrolyte-specific exposures.
- ASTM D5894 Cyclic Salt Fog/UV Exposure Testing: Used when painted steel products must be evaluated under alternating UV, condensation, and corrosion exposure.
- SAE J2334 Cyclic Corrosion Testing: Used to evaluate corrosion performance under cyclic exposure conditions, especially for automotive or transportation applications.
- Customer-specific corrosion testing: Used when a product must meet an automotive, aerospace, military, industrial, or internal company standard.
For coated or treated steel products and components, corrosion testing is used to evaluate visual degradation, coating degradation, blistering, red rust, corrosion creep, or other criteria defined by the applicable standard.
If you are unsure which method to use, our team is here to help. For added information about corrosion testing, you can also download our practical guide on Corrosion Testing.
When is Steel Corrosion Testing Recommended?
Steel corrosion testing is useful when corrosion performance must be confirmed before a material, coating, or finished product is approved, shipped, or placed in service.
You may need steel corrosion testing when:
- You are qualifying a new material, coating, supplier, or manufacturing process.
- You need to compare different steel protection systems.
- Your customer requires testing to an ASTM, ISO, SAE, automotive, aerospace, military, or internal specification.
- You are validating a steel part before production or product launch.
- You are investigating premature rust, coating failure, or corrosion-related field issues.
- You need test data to support quality control, engineering, procurement, or compliance documentation.
Information Needed When Requesting a Quote
To prepare an accurate quote, our team needs to understand the test method, sample type, and project requirements. If you already have a standard, drawing, customer specification, or test plan, you can send it to us for review.
To request a quote, please include:
- Required test standard or customer specification
- Type of steel, coating, plating, or surface treatment
- Size, shape, and quantity of samples
- Required exposure duration
- Inspection or evaluation criteria
- Any reporting or documentation requirements
Steel Corrosion Test Results and Evaluation
Steel corrosion test results are evaluated according to the applicable standard, customer specification, or acceptance criteria.
Depending on the test method, this may include:
- Visual inspection
- Photographic documentation
- Corrosion observation
- Coating degradation
- Blistering
- Other defined acceptance criteria
- Red rust
- Corrosion creep
- Adhesion loss
- Other defined acceptance criteria
For finished components, results can also help identify corrosion-prone areas such as edges, welds, fasteners, joints, or exposed surfaces.
Why Choose Micom for Corrosion Testing?
Micom is an independent ISO/IEC 17025 accredited materials testing laboratory with over 25 years of experience supporting manufacturers, engineers, and quality teams in need of reliable third-party testing.
We are recognized for our technical expertise, competitive pricing, fast turnaround times, and accurate, timely reports. Our laboratory can support corrosion testing projects performed according to recognized ASTM, ISO, SAE, MIL, aerospace, transportation, industrial, and customer-specific requirements.
From the initial quote request to the final report, our team supports you by providing practical advice, reliable testing capabilities, and documentation that can be used for internal review, client approval, or compliance records.
Established in Montreal, we serve clients across Canada and the United States.
Request a Quote for Steel Corrosion Testing
To request a quote, send us your test standard or specification, sample details, required exposure duration, and any evaluation or reporting requirements. Our team will review your request and provide a quote based on your project needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is steel corrosion testing?
Steel corrosion testing exposes steel samples, coated parts, or finished components to controlled corrosive conditions to evaluate how they perform. Depending on the test method, this may involve salt spray, humidity, condensation, drying cycles, UV exposure, or other specified conditions.
The goal is to assess corrosion resistance, coating performance, rust formation, blistering, or other criteria defined by the applicable ASTM, ISO, SAE, automotive, aerospace, military, or customer-specific standard.
What types of steel products can be corrosion tested?
Micom Laboratories can perform corrosion testing on different steel materials, coated samples, and finished components. This may include bare steel, galvanized steel, painted steel, powder-coated steel, plated steel, stainless steel, panels, fasteners, brackets, enclosures, welded components, and assemblies.
How long does steel corrosion testing take?
The duration of steel corrosion testing depends on the test method used, exposure conditions, and customer specifications. Some tests may run for a few hours or days, while others may require several hundred or even several thousand hours of exposure.
If your customer has specified a required duration, Micom Laboratories can quote based on that requirement. If not, our team can help review your project and determine an appropriate test approach.
Can you perform corrosion testing on finished steel components?
Yes. We can perform corrosion testing on finished steel components, not just on flat test panels. Feasibility depends on the size, geometry, material, and coating of the sample, as well as the requirements of the test standard. In some cases, flat panels or representative test specimens may still be required.
Does Micom provide corrosion testing for companies in the United States?
Yes. Although based in Quebec, Micom Laboratories offers corrosion testing services to companies across Canada and the United States. You can send us your steel samples, coated parts, or finished components, along with information regarding the standards, specifications, exposure times, and evaluation criteria required for your project. Our team will review your request and provide you with a quote tailored to your testing needs.
What type of steel can corrode?
Most types of steel can corrode when exposed to moisture, salts, chemicals, humidity, or other corrosive conditions. This can include bare steel, galvanized steel, painted steel, powder-coated steel, plated steel, and stainless steel. Corrosion testing helps evaluate how a specific steel material, coating system, or finished component performs under controlled laboratory conditions.
Practical Corrosion Testing Guide
Want to better understand how corrosion testing works?
Download our free guide and get a better understanding of corrosion,
the main test methods used, and how laboratory corrosion testing is performed.
