Stainless Steel corrosion testing shows the susceptibility of the tested sample to intergranular attack, pitting and/or exfoliation corrosion. Accurate measurements of the susceptibility to corrosion of a particular material allows engineers and manufacturers to ensure the material will perform to specified parameters.

Corrosion testing can be performed to a variety of specifications and or customer requirements. Most often, testing is done by immersion in solution. Corrosive immersions may be either acidic or basic, and will last anywhere from 90 seconds to 240 hours. Once the immersion cycle is complete, the sample is analysed by visual inspection or mass loss evaluation.

Testing is done per ASTM A-262 Detecting Susceptibility to Intergranular Attack in Austenitic Stainless Steel.

• Practice A - Oxalic Acid Etch Test For Clarification of Etch Structures – 90 seconds.
• Practice B - Ferric Sulfate–Sulfuric Acid Test – 120 hours.
• Practice C - Nitric Acid Test – 240 hours.
• Practice E - Copper – Copper Sulfate – 16% Sulfuric Acid Test – 15 hours.
• Practice F - Copper – Copper Sulfate – 50% Sulfuric Acid Test – 120 hours.