Climatic chambers and accelerated corrosion tests
The French Corrosion Institute provides climate and accelerated corrosion testing chambers that enable the reproduction in laboratory conditions of severe environments: combined cyclic tests with saline pollution, marine atmospheres, humidity cycles, temperature variations, and UV exposure.
Why carry out accelerated corrosion testing?
Accelerated corrosion testing enables industrial stakeholders to ensure the durability and reliability of their products by reproducing severe environmental conditions (humidity, salinity, temperature variations) in a laboratory setting within a reduced timeframe. These tests are essential for validating the performance of materials and anticorrosion coatings, anticipating in-service failures, and meeting the regulatory requirements of demanding sectors such as automotive, aerospace, rail, and maritime industries. By quickly identifying degradation mechanisms, they help reduce maintenance costs, minimize industrial risks, and accelerate the time-to-market of robust solutions that meet client expectations.
Our capacities in accelerated corrosion testing
We offer a wide range of tests tailored to the industrial and regulatory requirements of various sectors such as automotive, aerospace, maritime, and offshore. Our equipment includes:
- Standard multi-volume chambers
- Walk-in chamber for large components
- Dedicated rigs for testing assembled systems
- Automotive corrosion testing (VDA)
- Cyclic corrosion tests (CCT / ACT)
- Accelerated marine environment testing (C5/CX)
Our chambers for combined and salt spray tests
| Equipment | Quantity | Volume | Temp. (°C) | RH (%) | Examples of performed standards (non-exhaustive) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyclic corrosion testing | |||||
| Control Art | 7 | 2000L | -15 / +50 | 20 - 95 | Volvo STD 423-0014 · Volvo STD 423-0069 · Scania STD 4319 Volvo VCS 1027,149 · VCS 1027,1449 · Scania STD 4445 VDA 233-102 · ISO 11997-3 |
| Q-Lab Q-FOG CRH 1100-HSC | 6 | 1100L | Tamb / +60 | 20 - 95 | Renault ECC1 ASTM B117 · ISO 9227 … |
| RSI WLCplus 12000 VW (walk-in chamber) | 1 | 12 000 L | -20 / +60 | 20 – 95 | Volvo STD 423-0014 · Volvo STD 423-0069 · Scania STD 4319 Volvo VCS 1027,149 · VCS 1027,1449 · Scania STD 4445 VDA 233-102 · ISO 11997-3 Renault ECC1 ISO 9227 · ASTM B117 |
| Salt spray testing | |||||
| Weiss SC450 | 1 | 450 L | +35 / +50 | — | ISO 9227 · ASTM B117 · DIN 50017 · IEC 60068-2-11 |
| Labomat S1000S | 1 | 1 000 L | +35 / +50 | — | ISO 9227 · ASTM B117 · DIN 50017 · IEC 60068-2-11 |
| Vötsch VSC/KWT 1000 | 1 | 1 000 L | +35 / +50 | — | ISO 9227 · ASTM B117 · DIN 50017 · IEC 60068-2-11 |
Our climatic chambers
| Equipment | Quantity | Volume | Temp. (°C) | RH (%) | Examples of performed standards (non-exhaustive) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climatic testing (temperature + humidity) | |||||
| Weiss WKL 100/10 | 1 | 100 L | +10 / +150 | 20 – 98 | IEC 60068-2-30 · IEC 60068-2-38 · IEC 60068-2-78 |
| Vötsch VC0034 | 1 | 340 L | −40 / +180 | 20 – 98 | IEC 60068-2-30 · IEC 60068-2-38 · IEC 60068-2-78 |
| Weiss WK3 340/40 | 3 | 340 L | −40 / +180 | 20 – 98 | IEC 60068-2-1 · IEC 60068-2-2 · IEC 60068-2-30 · IEC 60068-2-78 |
| Vötsch VCC 0060 | 1 | 340 L | +15 / +60 | 20 – 98 | IEC 60068-2-30 · IEC 60068-2-38 · IEC 60068-2-78 |
| Weiss WK11 600/40 | 1 | 600 L | −40 / +180 | 20 – 98 | IEC 60068-2-1 · IEC 60068-2-2 · IEC 60068-2-30 · IEC 60068-2-78 |
| Weiss ClimeEvent C600 | 1 | 600 L | −40 / +180 | 20 – 98 | IEC 60068-2-1 · IEC 60068-2-2 · IEC 60068-2-30 · IEC 60068-2-78 |
Our other chambers
| Equipment | Quantity | Volume | Temp. (°C) | RH (%) | Examples of performed standards (non-exhaustive) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ovens — Dry heat | |||||
| Binder FP115 | 1 | 115 L | Tamb / +300 | — | DIN 12880 |
| Binder FD115 | 3 | 116 L | Tamb / +300 | — | DIN 12880 |
| Secasi SLT 100/40 | 1 | 100 L | −40 / +180 | — | DIN 12880 |
| Accelerated UV weathering | |||||
| Q-Lab QUV | 5 | 48 échantillons | Tamb / +70 Tamb / +60 | UV Condensation | ISO 4892-3 · ISO 11507 · ISO 16474-3 · ASTM G154 · ASTM G53 ISO 6270-1 · ISO 6270-2 · ASTM D4585 · DIN 50017 |
| Condensation weathering | |||||
| Q-Lab QCT | 1 | 48 pan. | Tamb / +60 | 100% (Cond.) | ISO 6270-1 · ISO 6270-2 · ASTM D4585 · DIN 50017 |
Industrial applications
Automotive industry
- Validation of anticorrosion systems (coatings/paints and surface treatments)
- Simulation of winter conditions (de-icing salts)
- Testing according to VDA, SAE, ISO, ASTM standards
- Certifications/accreditations to perform testing for numerous automotive OEMs: Renault, Volvo, Scania, etc.
→ Guaranteed cost reduction and improved component durability.
Aerospace industry
- Corrosion assessment on aluminum alloys, stainless steels, and composite materials
- Performance evaluation of anticorrosion coatings and surface treatments (conversion coatings, anodizing, paints)
- Compliance with Airbus, Boeing, and military standards
→ Control of corrosion phenomena in critical environments.
Maritime and offshore industry
- Simulation of extreme saline atmospheres for marine environments (C5/CX)
- Validation of materials and anticorrosion treatments in marine and coastal environments
- Long-term testing on exposed structures
→ Essential to ensure the reliability of equipment in aggressive environments.
From R&D to industrial qualification
We support you at every stage:
- Material development and selection
- Validation of anticorrosion treatments
- Failure analysis
- Performance optimization
- Development of tests more representative of your actual conditions
→ Our experts help you turn your test results into concrete technical decisions.
Why choose the French Corrosion Institute?
- Recognized scientific expertise in corrosion
- Extensive fleet of climate testing chambers
- Tests tailored to real operating conditions
- Ability to test components of all sizes
- Personalized technical support
- Solutions even for the most complex cases
Ask for your corrosion test
Would you like to:
- qualify a material or coating?
- reproduce a specific environment?
- meet a regulatory requirement?
→ Contact our corrosion experts today to define your testing program: brest@institut-corrosion.fr
All our accreditations for the transport sector
- Renault (ECC1 eand associated analyses)
- Volvo (STD 423-0014, STD 423-0069, VCS 1027,149, VCS 1027,1449)
- Scania (STD 4319, STD 4445)
- Airbus Helicopter (test de corrosion cyclique)
Our other services and test capacities in relation with accelerated corrosion testing
Mechanical and corrosion testing capacities
Testing capacities under more severe conditions
Corrosion monitoring with sensors
Atmospheric exposure sites
