FN 940070-2

Corrosion resistance

Part 2: testing Festo standard

Table of contents

1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 3 Version

2 Corrosion test procedure .................................................................................... 3
07
2. 1 Salt spray test with sodium chloride solution in accordance with ISO 9227
– NSS .................................................................................................................. 4
2. 2 Testing in an alternating, condensate-water atmosphere per ISO 6270-2 –
AHT ..................................................................................................................... 4
2. 3 Testing in an alternating, condensate-water atmosphere with S02 per ISO
6988 (Kesternich testing) .................................................................................... 4
3 Corrosion test...................................................................................................... 5
3. 1 Test objects ......................................................................................................... 5
3. 2 Test duration ....................................................................................................... 5
3. 3 Test initiation ...................................................................................................... 5
3. 4 Test requirements ............................................................................................... 5
3. 5 Test evaluation and practical tips ....................................................................... 5
3. 6 Corrosion database ............................................................................................. 6
Appendix A, corroded test objects (informative) ................................................................ 7

Version Draft 03 04 05 06 07
Created/changed jon/TS-PM jon / ET-TD yns / PM-SLS jon / CP-TMC jon / TS-PM
Date 05.09.2017 20.10.2003 12.10.2015 10.01.2017 06.07.2018
Checked/approved nbg / ET-T jon / CP-TMC kbe / CM-SLS yns / TS-LMS Festo AG & Co. KG
Date 21.10.2003 12.10.2015 10.01.2017 06.07.2018
Translated Ruiter Str. 82
Date D-73734 Esslingen, Germany
Process 03.1 product development

Topic Corrosion resistance test

Scope This standard applies to Festo AG & Co. KG, as well as all operationally
associated Festo plants and national companies as well as for suppliers.

Purpose This standard specifies the test sequence for corrosion testing of metallic
base materials, plating and coatings at Festo. It defines drawing entries and
nomenclature, and it’s applicable as a basis for implementing corporate
design specifications for metallic surfaces.

Note -

About printed Printout for information only

copies valid version in database only

Replaces: -

Previous FN 940070-2:1993-09; 1996-10; 1997-05; 1998-09; 2003-10; 2015-10;

editions 2017-01

Changes The following changes have been made to the version dated January 2017:

a) Editorial revision
b) Abbreviation "KBK" replaced by "CRC”
c) Subsection entitled “Sequence” removed
d) Chapter 3 “Corrosion test” supplemented and specified
e) Added under chapter 3.5 “test evaluation and practical tips”
f) Added appendix A

Cited ISO 2409 Paints and varnishes – Cross-cut test

standards and ISO 6988 Metallic and other non-organic coatings – Sulphur
other dioxide test with general condensation of moisture
applicable ISO 6270-2 Paints and varnishes – Determination of resistance to
standards humidity – Part 2: Procedure for exposing test
specimens in condensate-water atmospheres
FN 940070-1 Corrosion resistance – Part 1: Classes, definitions,
designation, drawing entries
ISO 9227 Corrosion tests in artificial atmospheres – Salt spray
tests
ISO 17872 Paints and varnishes – Guidelines for the introduction
of scribe marks through coatings on metallic panels
for corrosion testing

Festo AG & Co. KG FN 940070-2:2018-07 Page 2 of 9

1 Introduction

The implementation of standard coatings will ensure uniform minimum corrosion

resistance for all materials and prevent a sprawling diversity of different processes.
A standardised, systematic procedure for examining corrosion is a prerequisite for
obtaining meaningful, reproducible and comparable characteristic material quantities
regarding corrosion properties. This makes it possible to avoid cost-intensive, excessive
corrosion protection, as well as inadequate corrosion protection which jeopardises the
fulfilment of functional and decorative requirements.
The objective of this standard is to assure corrosion testing which meets the requirements
encountered in actual practice in consideration of existing standards, other technical
guidelines and experience with customer requirements.
New, previously unexamined base materials and coatings must be qualified before use
with the help of the corrosions tests included below, and must be assigned to a corrosion
resistance class (CRC). If the required corrosion resistance class is not fulfilled during
testing, the material is classified in accordance with the criteria of the lower CRC. Approval
with restrictions is issued in this case.

2 Corrosion test procedure

The corrosion test procedures used by Festo as standard methods are listed and
represented schematically in subsections 2. 1 through 2. 3.
The test conditions for the individual corrosion tests, as well as the utilised procedures, are
specified in the corresponding ISO standards, i.e. detailed information can be found in the
corresponding standards.
The test equipment used at Festo for corrosion testing assure execution of the tests in
compliance with the standards.

Festo AG & Co. KG FN 940070-2:2018-07 Page 3 of 9

2. 1 Salt spray test with sodium chloride solution in accordance with ISO 9227 – NSS

Temperature in °C

50 50

40 33 to 37° C 40

30 T = 0.2 - 0.3° C / min. 30

Spraying of an aqueous NaCl solution,
concentration by mass: 5 g per 100 ml
20 20

10 10
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
Time in hrs.
Test cycle (1 round)

2. 2 Testing in an alternating, condensate-water atmosphere per ISO 6270-2 – AHT

Temperature in °C

50 50
37 to 43 °C
40 T = 0.2 - 0.3° C / min. 40
Rel. humidity; 100%,
30 30
condensation on test
objects
18 to 28° C
20 20
Rel. humidity: max. 75%
10 10
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
Time in hrs.
Test cylce (1 round)

2. 3 Testing in an alternating, condensate-water atmosphere with S02 per ISO 6988 (Kesternich testing)

Temperature in °C

50 50
37 to 43° C
40 T = 0.2 - 0.3°C / min. 40
Rel. humidity: 100%,
30 30
condensation on test objects
18 to 28° C
SO volumetric
20 20
concentration : 0.067% (V/V)
Rel. humidity: max. 75%
10 10
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
Time in hrs.
Test cycle (1 round)

Festo AG & Co. KG FN 940070-2:2018-07 Page 4 of 9

3 Corrosion test

3. 1 Test objects

Series components must be used for testing. If not otherwise agreed, these must always be
new parts.

3. 2 Test duration
The tests are ended after the 10th round because results obtained at this point in time
represent maximum required corrosion protection.
One round amounts to a completed 24-hour test cycle (see corrosion tests in sections 2. 1
through 2. 3). And thus 10 rounds correspond to a 240-hour test.

3. 3 Test initiation

In order to initiate a corrosion test, the test objects and the completely filled out form are
send to “Materials Consultancy”. The test is then deemed requested.
The form is available as a Word document at N:\info\techinfo\formular\crc. 5 test objects
are required for each test in order to avoid random results.

3. 4 Test requirements

The requirements specified in FN 940070-3 apply to standard coatings.

Refer to FN 940070-1, appendix A, for new coatings which are not listed in FN 940070-3
and for bare metal parts.

3. 5 Test evaluation and practical tips

The test objects are photographed in new condition, at the point in time of failure due to
corrosion and at the end of the 10th round of testing. The test objects are evaluated with
the naked eye at reading distance.

In the case of bare metal components and parts with metallic plating (see figure A1), the
failure criterion is the occurrence of corrosion on the base metal, as well as the occurrence
of voluminous zinc corrosion product (white rust) in the case of galvanized, thin/thick film
passivated components (see figure A2). Discolouration of the passivated zinc plating such
as clouding, dulling, dark spots and white fogging without an increase in volume (see
figure A3) must not be evaluated.

The failure criterion for anodically generated coatings on aluminium (see figure A4) is a
visible change to the surface which perceptibly impairs the optical appearance of the test
object.

In the case of organic coatings, no corrosion of the base metal and no blistering of the
coating may occur within the corresponding test duration of any of the tests (NSS, AHT)
(see figure A5). During the salt spray test, infiltration at an intentionally induced scratch (in
accordance with ISO 17872) may not extent any further than 2 mm (see figure A6). The tool
used by Festo to induce scratches if of the “van Laar” type.
In order to comply with the corrosion resistance class, organic coatings must pass the
cross-cut test per ISO 2409 – on the new part as well as after the AHT test – with cross-cut
test results of 0 to 1 (see figures A7, A8 and A9). The duration of the AHT test is determined
on the basis of the standard coating or the CRC requirement (see section 3.4).

Festo AG & Co. KG FN 940070-2:2018-07 Page 5 of 9

Because it’s easy to use, a hand-held multipoint cutting tool is recommended for thin paint
layers which aren’t too tenacious, for example liquid paints. A tool of this sort is sensible
for layer thicknesses of up to t ≤ 60 µm – this results in a distance between scratches of
1 mm. For tenacious coatings such as powdered enamels or thicker paint coatings (t > 60
µm  distance between scratches of 2 or 3 mm), a box cutter with a rigid blade and a V-
shaped cutting edge must be used. Tough and/or thicker paint layers cannot be cut cleanly
with hand-held multipoint cutting tools.

Scratch and cross-cut tests can be omitted if the test objects are so small or are shaped
such that no scratches can be introduced (see figure A10).

Restrictions with reference to the surface areas to be evaluated:

• In the case of connecting components, only those surfaces are evaluated which are
visible after they have been screwed in. These surfaces include screw heads and
thread domes, as well as spanner flats and contact surfaces on nuts.
• In the case of stamped and bent parts whose metallic plating is of a higher quality than
the base material (e.g. nickel on steel), the cutting edge is not to be evaluated.

5 test objects must be subjected to each corrosion test. If only one of the five test objects
demonstrate corrosion to an extent which is evaluated as a failure, this is deemed an
outlier. If two of the five test objects demonstrate corrosion to an extent which is evaluated
as a failure, the entire test group is deemed a failure.
If there are fewer than 5 test objects per test group, a procedure of this sort is
fundamentally unfeasible. In such cases, it’s at the discretion of the inspector to specify a
CRC.
The goal should be to fulfil the requirements of the respective CRC without any occurrence
of corrosion, in order to provide added security in the event of quality fluctuations in the
surface finishing or coating process.

As of which point the occurrence of changes to the surface are deemed corrosion is
unfortunately not always unequivocal.
For example, if the surface of a component corrodes which is not subjected to corrosion
later on as a product in the assembled state, this corrosion can be evaluated less strictly
than corrosion on a visible surface.

3. 6 Corrosion database
All data accumulated during corrosion examinations are saved in the corrosion database.
These include:
The part number of the test object (if there is one), designation, material, coating, layer
thickness, manufacturer/supplier, coating service provider, results of the corrosion tests
expressed as passed rounds of testing, corrosion resistance class (CRC), image number of
the test object, work order number, client and work order date.
The results of the corrosion examination are provided to the client as a memorandum
which includes the results, a proposed remedy if applicable and photos of the test objects
taken at the above-mentioned points in time.

Festo AG & Co. KG FN 940070-2:2018-07 Page 6 of 9

Appendix A, corroded test objects (informative)

Figure A1: Chemically nickel plated steel component after one round Figure A2: Galvanized, thin film passivated steel parts after one round of
of the salt spray test the salt spay test – failure due to voluminous formation of white rust

Figure A3: Galvanized, thin film passivated steel parts after one round Figure A4: Thinly anodised component made of EN AW-2011 after one
of the salt spay test – no voluminous formation of white rust, white round of the salt spray test – pitting corrosion has occurred at numerous
fogging only => no failure locations and the surface is rough and unsightly => failure

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Figure A5: Component made of EN AC-AlSi9Cu3, not passivated, Figure A6: Component made of EN AC-AlSi12Cu1(Fe)-D, powder coated
coated with “M1e” liquid paint, after one round of the salt spray test – but not passivated, after 5 rounds of the salt spray test – infiltration at
noticeable blistering at the edges of the component an intentionally induced scratch

Figure A7: Cross-cut test result of 0 in new condition Figure A8: Cross-cut test result of 3 (failure) after condensate-water
atmosphere test

15 mm

Figure A9: Cross-cut test result of 5 (failure) after condensate-water Figure A10: A component which is too small for the cross-cut test
climate test

Festo AG & Co. KG FN 940070-2:2018-07 Page 8 of 9

Figure 11: Components after 3 rounds of the salt spray test – perceptible Figure 12: Components after 10 rounds of the salt spray test – one test
formation of red rust on the surfaces of all test objects => evaluated as a object has spots of red rust and the others are entirely free of rust => no
failure failure

Figure 13: Components after 3 rounds of the salt spray test – thin red rust Figure 14: Component after 3 rounds of the salt spray test – red rust in
fogging on two of the three test objects => was not evaluated as a failure proximity to labelling => evaluated as a failure

Festo AG & Co. KG FN 940070-2:2018-07 Page 9 of 9