Designation: G52 − 00 (Reapproved 2016)´1

Standard Practice for

Exposing and Evaluating Metals and Alloys in Surface
Seawater1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation G52; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

ε1 NOTE—Editorially replaced Terminology G15 with Terminology G193 throughout in November 2016.

1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents

1.1 This practice covers conditions for the exposure of 2.1 ASTM Standards:5
metals, alloys, and other materials in natural surface seawater D3623 Test Method for Testing Antifouling Panels in Shal-
such as those typically found in bays, harbors, channels, and so low Submergence
forth,2 as contrasted with deep ocean testing.3 This practice G1 Practice for Preparing, Cleaning, and Evaluating Corro-
covers full immersion, tidal zone and related splash, and spray sion Test Specimens
zone exposures.2,4 G30 Practice for Making and Using U-Bend Stress-
1.2 This practice sets forth general procedures that should Corrosion Test Specimens
be followed in conducting seawater exposure tests so that G38 Practice for Making and Using C-Ring Stress-
meaningful comparisons may be made from one location to Corrosion Test Specimens
another. G39 Practice for Preparation and Use of Bent-Beam Stress-
Corrosion Test Specimens
1.3 This practice identifies recommended procedures for G46 Guide for Examination and Evaluation of Pitting Cor-
evaluating the effects of natural surface seawater on the rosion
materials exposed. G58 Practice for Preparation of Stress-Corrosion Test Speci-
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as mens for Weldments
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information G78 Guide for Crevice Corrosion Testing of Iron-Base and
only. Nickel-Base Stainless Alloys in Seawater and Other
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the Chloride-Containing Aqueous Environments
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the G193 Terminology and Acronyms Relating to Corrosion
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 3. Terminology
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. 3.1 Terms relative to this subject matter can be found in
Terminology G193.
4. Significance and Use
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee G01 on Corrosion
of Metals, and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee G01.09 on Corrosion in
4.1 The procedures described herein are recommended for
Natural Waters. evaluating the corrosion or marine fouling behavior, or both, of
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2016. Published November 2016. Originally materials exposed to quiescent or local tidal flow conditions, or
approved in 1976. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as G52 – 00 (2011). DOI: both.
10.1520/G0052-00R16E01.
2
Kirk, W. W., and Pikul, S. J., Seawater Corrosivity Around the World: Results
4.1.1 This practice is not intended to cover the influence of
from Three Years of Testing, ASTM STP 1086 Corrosion in Natural Waters, 1990, high seawater velocity or the behavior of materials in seawater
pp. 3-36. which has been transported from its source.
3
Reinhart, F. M., “Corrosion of Materials in Hydrospace,” Technical Report
R-304, U.S. Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory, Port Hueneme, CA, December
5
1966. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
4
Phull, B. S., Pikul, S. J., and Kain, R. M., Seawater Corrosivity Around the contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
World: Results from Five Years of Testing, ASTM STP 1300 Corrosion in Natural Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Waters, Vol 2, 1997, pp. 34-73. the ASTM website.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

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 G52 − 00 (2016)´1
4.1.2 Some aspects of this practice may be applicable to 6.2 Specimens must be insulated from the test racks.
testing in tanks and troughs which are continuously provided Mounting devices made of porcelain and other non-metallic
with fresh surface seawater. Additionally, some aspects may materials are commonly used. It should be recognized that the
also be applicable to deep ocean testing. specimen contact areas with mounting devices may produce
crevice corrosion of some susceptible materials, for example,
NOTE 1—Guide G78 provides guidance for conducting crevice corro-
sion tests under controlled seawater test conditions. some stainless steel and aluminum alloys.
4.2 While the duration of testing may be dictated by the test NOTE 4—Bolts used to secure the insulators must be galvanically
compatible with the test rack.
objectives, exposures of more than six months or one year are
commonly used to minimize the effects of environmental 6.3 Spacing of the mounted specimens can be important. It
variables associated with seasonal changes or geographic is desirable to have sufficient space between surfaces of test
location, or both. specimens to ensure that adequate water flows between them
and that with long exposures the accumulated fouling will not
4.3 The procedures described are applicable for the expo-
block off the surface to the presence of the seawater environ-
sure of simple test panels, welded test panels, or those
ment.
configured to assess the effects of crevices, or both, such as
those described in Guide G78. In addition, they are useful for 6.4 Specimen location maps or charts should be prepared
testing of actual components and fabricated assemblies. and maintained to ensure positive identification at the conclu-
sion of testing. Pre-exposure photographs of assembled test
4.4 It is prudent to include control materials with known racks are useful.
resistance to seawater corrosion or fouling, or both, as de-
scribed in Test Method D3623. 6.5 Racks may be suspended by such materials as nylon,
polyester, or polypropylene rope depending on prevailing
NOTE 2—Materials which have been included in ASTM Worldwide conditions. Steel wire rope should be avoided.
Seawater Corrosivity Studies include UNS K01501 (carbon steel), UNS
C70600 (90/10 CuNi) and UNS A95086 (5086-H116 Al).2,4
6.5.1 For multiple year exposures, it is recommended that
NOTE 3—In the case of evaluations of aluminum alloys, care should be the rack support rope be resistant to degradation by seawater as
exercised in the location of specimens near copper or high copper- well as ultraviolet light.
containing alloys. In some instances, it is not sufficient to simply
electrically isolate specimens to prevent bi-metallic (galvanic) corrosion;
6.6 Exposure racks should be suspended so that attached
copper ions from nearby corroding copper or copper-base alloys can specimens will be oriented vertically and subjected to the full
deposit on aluminum and accelerate its corrosion. effects of the seawater but free of galvanic contact with other
specimens and with minimal sedimentation of silt and debris
5. Test Sites on the specimen.
5.1 Test sites should be chosen at locations representative of 6.6.1 It should be recognized that in time some support
natural seawater environments where the metals or alloys to be ropes may stretch due to the added mass of marine fouling. In
tested may be used. Ideally, a natural seawater test site should shallow waters, this should be taken into account to avoid
have clean, uncontaminated seawater, be in a protected unwanted contact with the sea bed or bottom. In some cases,
location, and have facilities for such tests as splash, tidal, and the added mass will also make test rack removal more difficult.
full immersion. Reference should be made to tropical versus NOTE 5—It should be recognized that barnacles attached to rack support
other conditions, and seasonal variations in temperature and in ropes will create potential hazards if manual lifting is required.
deposition of marine growth on the test panels with a defined 6.7 If periodic removals are envisioned, it is recommended
“fouling season.” that different racks be utilized to support specimens for each
5.2 Periodic observations of critical water parameters test period. Otherwise, marine fouling and corrosion products
should be made and reported; depending on the experiment, on other specimens may be disturbed and possibly affect
these might include water temperature, salinity, conductivity, subsequent behavior of the test material.
pH, oxygen content, and tidal flow (velocity). If there is 6.7.1 It is prudent to check the security of support ropes and
concern about the quality of water at the test site, it is the presence of the test racks from time-to-time.
suggested that ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon dioxide
be determined periodically using analytical chemistry proce- 7. Specimens
dures.2 7.1 When the material to be tested is in sheet form, a
nominal specimen size of 100 by 300 mm (approximately 4 by
6. Exposure Racks 12 in.) is recommended. Specimens may be larger or smaller to
6.1 Test racks should be constructed of a material that will suit a particular test.
remain intact for the entire proposed period of exposure. 7.2 Odd shaped samples and assemblies comprising like or
Nickel-copper alloy 400 (UNS No. N04400) has been found to dissimilar metals can also be tested. If testing materials in odd
be an excellent material, but is not recommended for holding shapes (bolts, nuts, pipes, and so forth) is desired, a means of
aluminum specimens. Coated aluminum racks (6061-T6 or supporting them in the test racks must be devised. It is
5086-H32) also have given satisfactory service. Nonmetallic important that the specimens be electrically insulated from
racks made from reinforced plastic or treated wood might also their respective supports and from each other to prevent
be used. formation of galvanic corrosion cells. In some instances it is

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 G52 − 00 (2016)´1
not sufficient to isolate specimens electrically to prevent surfaces be noted initially so that these areas will not be
corrosion of one material. For example, great care must be confused with pits or other corrosion at the completion of the
exercised with aluminum specimens or racks so that they will experiments.
not be contaminated by copper, which will cause accelerated 8.2.1 When a specific surface finish, such as pickled, scaled,
corrosion of the aluminum. A galvanic couple is not necessary as welded, sandblasted, or ground, is to be evaluated, the finish
to accelerate the corrosion of aluminum by copper. Copper or on the test specimens should be in accordance with test
alloys containing copper physically located in the vicinity of requirements. Thus, two types of tests are involved here: (1) an
aluminum may corrode sufficiently so that accelerated corro- alloy evaluation test with the surface finish as close as possible
sion of the aluminum may be caused by copper deposition on to the condition in which the material will be used, and (2) a
the aluminum. (See Note 3.) Again, appropriate insulating surface finish test.
supports are required. 8.2.2 To facilitate examination of exposed specimens, it is
7.2.1 Some specimen configurations for evaluating resis- important that the pre-test surface condition be as defect-free as
tance to crevice corrosion or stress corrosion cracking may be possible. Pre-existing pits and other depressions should be
tested under this practice. Examples are provided in Guide noted (or photographed) to avoid possible confusion during
G78, Practices G30, G38, G39, and G58. final inspection.
7.3 The total number of test specimens required should be 8.3 Weighing—Specimens should be weighed to the preci-
determined from a knowledge of the duration of the test and the sion preferred by the investigator, usually 61 mg. Records
planned removals of the specimens for intermediate evalua- should be kept of the mass, physical dimensions, and appear-
tions. For reliable results, a sufficient number of replicate ance of each specimen, including surfaces and edges, at the
specimens should be used for removal at each exposure period. beginning of the test. Changes in the physical appearance and
Triplicate specimens for each exposure period will usually any corrosion losses of the specimen due to exposure can then
satisfy this requirement. A suitable removal schedule might be be determined.
0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 years. In case of uncertainty as to an
alloy’s corrosion resistance, shorter intervals might be 9. Evaluation of Test Specimens
appropriate, and corrosion rate data may be used to establish 9.1 Remove specimens from exposure at the scheduled
more appropriate exposure periods. times or other appropriate times.
9.2 Without scratching the specimens, scrape off marine
8. Preparation of Specimens
growth and barnacles (see Note 7). Clean the panels in
8.1 Identification—Specimens should be marked in a man- accordance with Practice G1, and then reweigh to precisions
ner that will ensure identification for the life of the test. One established by the investigator. For certain tests, it may be of
proven method is to use a series of notches or drilled holes interest to preserve corrosion products for laboratory evalua-
arranged according to some desired code. Numbers stamped on tion. Photographs before and after cleaning are usually valu-
relatively corrosion-resistant materials may be suitable for able documentation.
some tests. Another method is to attach a corrosion-resistant NOTE 7—Plastic or wooden scrapers should be used to remove
metal tag (for example, alloy 625 (UNS No. N06625), alloy barnacles.
C276 (UNS No. N10276), titanium, or alloy 400 (UNS No.
N04400), (except for aluminum alloys), or PTFE) by means of 9.3 Determine the mass loss of each specimen from the pre-
and post-exposure weighings and convert the results to a
an insulating cord and a suitably located hole.
corrosion rate (Practice G1) or plot as mass loss per unit area
NOTE 6—In long term tests, unless fabricated from antifouling versus exposure time. Where the corrosion is highly localized
materials, identification tags may also become encrusted with marine (as in pitting or specimens with crevice attack) the calculation
fouling. of corrosion rates from mass loss data can be misleading. In
8.2 Cleaning—Oil, grease, and dirt should be removed by these cases, the tensile properties of the exposed specimens can
degreasing with a solvent cleaner and scrubbing to remove be determined and compared with the tensile properties of
insoluble soils. Mill scale should be removed from all test unexposed replicate specimens.
specimens unless it is specifically desired to perform the test 9.4 Measure the depth of attack and describe in detail with
with the mill scale intact. Pickling with an appropriate acid (see attention to changes at the edges as well as the surface of the
Practice G1) grit blasting or machining are acceptable descal- specimen. Take care during the evaluation of specimens to
ing methods. If acid pickling is used, care must be taken to stop recognize any other specific forms of attack, such as stress
the pickling action as soon as the mill scale has been removed. corrosion cracking and de-alloying.
It is recommended that the finish be as close as possible to the
condition in which the material will be used. To facilitate 9.5 Mechanical properties of exposed specimens, or speci-
examination of exposed specimens, it is important that a mens cut from exposed panels, can be compared with the
corresponding properties of unexposed material.
uniform finish be applied to the surface; that is, there should be
no pits or other depressions which might look like corrosion 9.6 When testing of materials (including coated test panels)
attack. To facilitate meaningful examination of exposed speci- for resistance to fouling, the as-removed mass (specimen plus
mens it is important that any irregularities on the specimen fouling) can be compared with the original mass of the

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 G52 − 00 (2016)´1
specimen. It is recommended that a consistent period of time 10.4 The results of the tests should be expressed as corro-
between removal and weighing be established. sion rate, such as penetration per unit time (for example,
9.6.1 When possible, identification of the attached fouling mm/year or µm/year), or loss in thickness over the exposure
species may be beneficial. It should be recognized that different period, or plotted as mass loss per unit area versus exposure
species may dominate at different times of the year in some time. The corrosion rates will be the average of both surfaces
surface seawater locations. and edges of a panel.
9.6.2 Concurrent exposure of highly susceptible (for In the case of crevice corrosion, Guide G78 may be useful.
example, acrylic glass, PVC, slate) controls and highly resis-
tant (for example, UNS C12200, C70600, C71500) controls 10.5 Any changes in the physical appearance of the speci-
should be considered for relative fouling-resistance rating of mens during the exposure period should be noted. If the
the test materials (see Test Method D3623). corrosive attack is nonuniform (that is, if pitting or crevice
attack is predominant), the corrosion rate data can be mislead-
10. Report
ing.
10.1 The report should include detailed descriptions of the
exposed specimens, pertinent data on exposure conditions, any 10.6 If the tensile properties of the specimens are measured
deposits formed, and results of the corrosion evaluation. after exposure, any tensile strength loss should be reported as
a percentage loss compared to both the original and control
10.2 Data for the exposed specimens should include physi-
tensile properties of unexposed material.
cal dimensions, chemical composition, metallurgical history,
surface preparation, and after-exposure cleaning methods. 10.7 A comparison of the corrosion data from the test
10.3 Details of exposure conditions should include location, specimens with corrosion data from the control specimens will
depth, dates and periods of exposure, and a description of the determine the relative merit of the material in question.
seawater conditions prevailing during the exposure period. A
general description of the seawater conditions on a monthly 11. Keywords
basis is normally sufficient. 11.1 evaluation and reporting; exposure conditions; fouling
10.3.1 A more detailed compilation might be justified for tests; specimen preparation; surface seawater corrosion tests;
certain tests. For example, in the case of pitting, assessment of test racks
the results should follow the reporting outlined in Guide G46.

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