the salt spray chamber pumps a 5% salt fog solution into its atmosphere for the duration of the test, which rapidly accelerates corrosion. //

• The salt spray environment is much more aggressive and concentrated than even a marine setting (the salt concentration of the ocean is roughly 3%).
• Salt spray tests for many common platings and coatings can last multiple days – with some tests lasting 500 hours or more before the parts begin to rust – while stainless steel parts can begin to exhibit signs of rust in as little as a few hours of exposure. Per ASTM A967 and A380, stainless parts are shown to be properly passivated if they resist corrosion in salt spray for just 2 hours.
• Stainless steel performs relatively poorly in salt spray because the constant exposure to a harsh environment rapidly erodes the passivation layer and prevents it from reforming. With the passivation layer inhibited, the base material is exposed and the part quickly begins to corrode.