Letter 41092

Specifying a Salt Spray Test [India] 

June 12, 2006

We are Manufacturing Locks. (Safety Equipments). We have a Copper Nickel and Chrome Plating for Zinc Diecasting components (Thickness 7+12+0.3 microns )and Nickel Chrome for M.S. components ( Thickness Ni-12 to 15 & Cr. 0.3 microns). My question is that, what type of test (Salt spray/CASS) and for how many hours to be conducted on the said components. With this you can suggest IS OR ASTM No. also.

Thanks.

RAJENDRAKUMAR MUDHOLKAR
- MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

Dear Mr. Rajendra Kumar

As per your given specifications a Neutral Salt Spray test will serve your purpose. Your products will easily withstand a life of 35-40 hours when exposed to neutral salt spray test. (Provided there is no porosity in your products).

Even if you carry out CASS test you will get results upto 12-15 hours before rusting.

Hemal Nagda
ELECTROPLATERS - MUMBAI, INDIA

We are using MS plates with Copper & Nickel plating. Copper thickness is about 2 to 3 micron. Nickel thickness around 3 to 4 micron. I want to understand whether I have to follow the salt spray test for Ni plating or just plating thickness checking is sufficient.

Umesh N Khot
- Mumbai

Hi, Umesh,

Your question is too vague in that you haven't told us where you and your company fit into the supply chain. Are you the supplier of the item and selling it to the public or a subcontractor selling your parts to someone higher up the chain but farming out the plating yourself? Or are you the plating shop?

If you are selling the item to the public, it is you who decides what quality assurance tests are required. If you don't want to run salt spray tests or to demand that your subcontractors do so, that's your choice. But you won't earn a reputation for quality if you don't know early on when a problem is developing, and that's the point of salt spray testing. Good luck!

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.  finishing.com Brick, NJ

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