What is an Outdoor Exposure Test?
The outdoor exposure test is a test method that simulates the natural corrosion process. The test sample is placed in a designated place outdoors, and the natural erosion test is carried out on the test plated parts or samples in a representative natural environment . This kind of test exposed to outdoor natural conditions is the outdoor exposure test. This kind of test usually takes a long time, from several months to several years, and some tests even need to be done for several years or decades, in order to make a credible evaluation of the natural corrosion resistance of certain surface treatment methods .
Outdoor exposure tests can be divided into standard exposure tests and non-standard exposure tests according to the test conditions and selected places. The standard test is carried out in a special exposure test site, which meets certain standard requirements and is an exposure test base invested and established by the state for production and scientific research. We can accept commissions for various outdoor exposure tests. The other is outdoor exposure tests that enterprises or research groups and other Testers choose to do in certain occasions according to the local environmental conditions. These tests only need to indicate the natural environmental conditions of the place where they are conducted, such as the climate type of the location, Temperature, humidity, atmospheric characteristics, etc. are also comparable tests. Even an exposure test performed in a location outside the office or laboratory can be compared.
How to do outdoor exposure test?
As mentioned above, there are two types of outdoor exposure tests, standard and non-standard. Standard outdoor exposure tests need to be carried out in special places, and such places that meet the standards are usually in areas with typical climate conditions, such as marine climate exposure test sites located in coastal areas, and continental hot and humid climate environments located in desert areas. The test field and the test field in the cold zone are designed to meet the needs of the environmental corrosion resistance test of the product parts working in various environments. To do a test in such an occasion, you only need to prepare the sample according to the requirements, put forward the test items you want to do and the evaluation parameters you want to get, and hand them over to the staff of the test site. This is the method of entrusted outdoor exposure test. Of course, you can also come to the site regularly to check the changes of the samples. The cost of this kind of outdoor exposure test is relatively high, but the reliability of the obtained parameters is also high, which has high reference value.
Another type of outdoor exposure test is a test arranged by the experimenter in the local area. Although it is a non-standard place, samples can still be prepared according to the requirements of the outdoor exposure test, and real samples can also be used for the test. It is even possible to do an outdoor exposure test on the coating in the natural corrosive environment outside the laboratory or electroplating workshop. It is also representative. Because there are more or less corrosive gases and particles discharged from the electroplating process outside the chemical laboratory or the periphery of the electroplating production unit, the outdoor exposure test process can be accelerated for the relatively harsh environmental conditions in the outdoor exposure test . Therefore, for general subjects or preliminary tests, you can use it in your own electroplating laboratory or production workshop
