ConstaMatic® TR – Cyclic Corrosion Test Chamber

Liebisch ConstaMatic® TR is a top-loading, chest-type cyclic corrosion test chamber capable of automatically applying different corrosion and climatic conditions within a programmed test cycle.

Depending on the selected configuration, the chamber can combine salt spray, condensation humidity, ventilation, hot-air drying, controlled relative humidity, direct spray, rain spray, and cooling stages within a single test programme. This enables both continuous salt spray and condensation humidity tests, as well as multi-stage cyclic corrosion tests used in the automotive and coatings industries.

ConstaMatic A-TR chambers are available with standard test chamber volumes of 400, 1000, and 2500 litres. Depending on the application and selected process systems, custom configurations with volumes of 1200 and 3000 litres can also be manufactured. The wide range of volumes and top-loading design facilitate the testing of large, long, heavy, or irregularly shaped samples.

ConstaMatic A-TR can be used to evaluate the corrosion resistance of the following products and materials:

• Painted and coated metal surfaces
• Automotive parts and assembled components
• Galvanised or electroplated products
• Fasteners and metal accessories
• Large machinery and equipment components
• Aluminium and other non-ferrous metal components
• Powder coatings, liquid paint, and protective coating systems
• Defence, aerospace, and transport equipment
• Long or irregularly shaped samples
• Large numbers of test panels requiring simultaneous testing

The top-loading, chest-type design is particularly advantageous for heavy and bulky components that are difficult to place in conventional cabinet-type chambers. Samples can be positioned inside the test chamber using suitable support racks, custom holders, or reinforced mesh systems.

In continuous salt spray tests, samples are exposed to a similar corrosive atmosphere throughout the test. In cyclic corrosion tests, different conditions—such as salt fog, condensation, controlled humidity, drying, ventilation, rain spray, or cooling—are applied sequentially for specified periods.

This approach can provide a more comprehensive representation of the wetting, drying, temperature, and humidity changes that materials encounter under real service conditions. The duration, temperature, relative humidity, and other process conditions of each stage are determined according to the applicable standard.

The tests that ConstaMatic A-TR can perform depend on the Liebisch process systems installed in the chamber. Therefore, not every A-TR model supports every standard. The configuration should be selected according to the test methods to be performed.

Important note: The -C suffix in the model name does not mean that the CorroCool cooling unit is supplied with the chamber. It indicates that the chamber has been prepared with the required CorroCool connections. The cooling unit must be selected separately and confirmed as part of the order.

For detailed information about Liebisch system codes and other process combinations, please visit the Liebisch Process Systems page.

Some tests may require additional equipment, a dedicated software programme, or specific laboratory conditions. Chamber suitability should therefore be determined by evaluating the current revision of the standard, the test cycle, and the required options together, rather than relying solely on the standard designation.

For detailed information about Liebisch test standards, please visit the Liebisch Corrosion Test Standards page.

S A-TR models are intended for laboratories that primarily perform salt spray tests but require programmable automatic control and advanced test data logging.

With suitable chamber equipment, test solution, and operating parameters, the following methods can be performed:

• ASTM B117: The principal practice for creating and operating a neutral salt spray test environment.
• ASTM B368: The copper-accelerated acetic acid salt spray (CASS) method used to evaluate decorative coatings.
• TS EN ISO 9227: Covers the principal salt spray methods: NSS, AASS, and CASS.
• TS EN 13523-8: Used to evaluate the salt spray resistance of coil-coated metal surfaces.
• TS EN 60068-2-11: Defines Test Ka for evaluating the resistance of electrical, electronic, and similar products to salt mist.
• TS ISO 9022-4: Intended to evaluate the resistance of optical instruments and components to saline atmospheric conditions.
• JIS Z 2371: The Japanese Industrial Standard for conducting salt spray tests.
• MIL-STD-202 Method 101: A military test method for evaluating the corrosion resistance of electrical and electronic components under salt-laden atmospheric conditions.
• MIL-STD-810 Method 509: A military environmental test method for evaluating the resistance of equipment and materials to salt fog.

The applicability of each standard to the chamber should be verified based on the required temperature, solution composition, spray conditions, and current revision of the standard.

The SKB configuration adds automatic ventilation to the salt spray and condensation humidity processes. This allows the test atmosphere to be changed automatically between programmed stages.

This system can be used for various combined and cyclic tests, provided that the applicable test method does not require hot air, controlled relative humidity, or cooling.

SKBW models add a hot-air system to the salt spray, condensation humidity, and ventilation processes.

They can be used for tests requiring wet, humid, and dry stages to be applied automatically within a programmed cycle. Depending on the application, the following methods may be considered:

• ASTM G85 Annex A5 – Prohesion: A cyclic corrosion test that alternates between exposure to a dilute electrolyte fog and drying under heated air.
• TS EN ISO 11997-1: Covers methods for evaluating paint and varnish coatings using cycles incorporating salt fog, dry, and humid conditions.
• ISO 14993: An accelerated cyclic corrosion test in which metals and coatings are alternately exposed to neutral salt fog, dry, and humid conditions.
• SAE J2334: An automotive cyclic corrosion test used to evaluate the corrosion performance of coating systems, metal substrates, manufacturing processes, and component designs.
• Mazda and Nissan cyclic corrosion methods: Automotive tests combining saline solution, humid exposure, and drying stages according to specified manufacturer cycles.
• Custom manufacturer tests incorporating a drying stage: Manufacturer specifications requiring controlled hot-air drying following saline or humid exposure.

As the systems required for Mazda, Nissan, and other manufacturer tests may vary according to the exact method designation and current revision, the chamber configuration should be verified separately.

The SKBWF configuration adds controlled relative humidity to the salt spray, condensation humidity, ventilation, and hot-air systems.

It can be selected for advanced cyclic corrosion tests requiring specified relative humidity levels, temperature and humidity transitions, or controlled humidity ramps. Depending on the application, the following methods may be considered:

• TS EN ISO 16701: An accelerated atmospheric corrosion test combining intermittent salt solution spraying with controlled, dynamic relative humidity cycles.
• GMW 14872: A cyclic corrosion method for evaluating automotive components and assemblies under saline solution, humid, drying, and varying temperature conditions.
• VDA 233-102: A cyclic corrosion test for automotive materials and components that combines different climatic stages, including salt application, humidity, drying, and low temperature.
• Renault D17 2028: A cyclic corrosion specification defined by Renault that may include controlled temperature, humidity, saline exposure, and drying stages.
• VW PV 1210: A Volkswagen test method for evaluating the corrosion resistance of vehicle bodies, coated metal parts, and components under alternating saline, humid, and dry climatic conditions.
• Manufacturer specifications incorporating controlled temperature and humidity stages: Automotive and industrial tests requiring relative humidity to be maintained at specified levels or changed through programmed ramps.

The SKBWF system code does not, by itself, mean that every requirement of these standards is met. Cycles requiring rain spray, direct spraying, low temperatures, or special solution application may require the R or C system or other additional equipment. Final suitability should be verified against the current revision of the standard and the selected chamber volume.

The SKBWFR configuration adds a rain spray system to the salt spray, condensation humidity, ventilation, hot-air, and controlled relative humidity processes.

SKBWFR-C models include the connections required for the chamber to operate with an external CorroCool cooling system. This configuration can be used for specific automotive or customer-defined tests requiring water spraying, controlled humidity, drying, and low-temperature stages within the same programme.

With the cooling system, the test chamber temperature can be reduced to approximately −20 °C, depending on the relevant equipment and ambient conditions. Lower temperature requirements should be evaluated as part of a custom project.

With suitable process systems and the required options, the ConstaMatic A-TR product family can be configured for the following standards and manufacturer test methods:

Depending on the application, ConstaMatic A-TR can be configured with the following options:

The availability of each option should be confirmed according to the selected chamber volume, system combination, and applicable standard.