Surface Salt Contamination Test
For many industries it is essential that the level of contaminants on a surface is measured prior to application of coatings to ensure the quality of the coating will perform at optimum level. Surface contamination from salts such as chlorides, sulphates and nitrates has been shown to lead to blistering of organic coatings particularly in immersion conditions. Monitoring and recording the level of contaminants prior to applying any number of layers of coating will ensure the quality of the coating achieves its optimum lifetime.
Salt contamination on metals and other surfaces has been shown to cause millions of pounds worth of corrosion and coating damage worldwide. Undetected and invisible contamination leads to:
- Premature corrosion-induced failure of plant items (stress corrosion cracking, crevice corrosion etc.)
- Early failure of paints and coatings due to loss of adhesion
- Interference with operating processes