MICOM LABORATORIES
Practical Guide to Corrosion Testing
Written and reviewed by: Michel Comtois, M. Sc. Chemistry and Anne-Marie Comtois, ChE — August 1, 2026
Corrosion is one of the most common causes of premature product failure, costly warranty claims, and unexpected maintenance in the field. For manufacturers, the challenge is not only understanding why corrosion happens, but also knowing how laboratory testing can help predict risk, compare protective systems, and support defensible technical decisions.
WHO THIS GUIDE IS FOR
A Resource for Engineers, Quality Teams, and Product Managers
This practical guide is written for engineers, quality teams, product managers, and procurement professionals who want a clearer understanding of corrosion and the role testing can play. Its purpose is to explain what the most widely used corrosion tests are designed to simulate, how results are typically interpreted, and how those results can be applied when evaluating materials, coatings, and finished components.
By the end of this guide, you should be able to interpret corrosion testing more confidently, understand what results do and do not demonstrate, and make more informed decisions when evaluating corrosion risk.
This guide is not intended to replace a full specification review or a product-specific testing strategy. No accelerated test can perfectly replicate every field environment, and results should always be interpreted in context, including service conditions, design features, assembly methods, and protective systems.
“A corrosion test is only useful if it answers a specific product question. Otherwise, it’s just data.”
— Michel Comtois, President, Micom Laboratories
IN THIS GUIDE
What You Will Learn
Chapter 1 — Accelerated Aging vs. Corrosion
The difference between accelerated aging and corrosion testing, and why this distinction matters when setting expectations and defining test objectives.
Chapter 2 — Why Corrosion Testing?
The cost of corrosion worldwide, which industries are most affected, and the key objectives testing can address: pass/fail, comparative, and service life.
Chapter 3 — What is
Corrosion?
Electrochemical cells, oxidoreduction reactions, the galvanic series, nine types of corrosion, real-world examples including the Statue of Liberty, and prevention strategies.
Chapter 4 — How to Do Corrosion Testing
How common corrosion test approaches compare, what typical observations and ratings mean, and how to prepare a test plan.
ABOUT MICOM LABORATORIES
ISO/IEC 17025-Accredited Independent Testing
Founded in 1999, Micom Laboratories Inc. is an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited, independent third-party laboratory specializing in material and product testing, with a particular focus on accelerated aging and performance evaluation. We support organizations across a range of industries, including pharmaceutical, automotive, aerospace, and defence.
Micom believes science plays a critical role in building a more reliable, longer-lasting world. By simulating real-world corrosive conditions at accelerated rates, our testing helps develop materials and products that perform as expected in their operating environments.
Micom performs testing for vibration, temperature, humidity, corrosion, UV exposure, impact, tensile strength, and other material properties. In corrosion testing specifically, we can test according to many national and international standards (including ASTM, ISO, SAE, etc.). Our experts can also design customized test protocols to simulate field failures or to replicate your product’s actual field use on an accelerated basis.
Today, Micom Laboratories operates a 16,000-square-foot testing facility in Montreal, Canada.