Designation: B 895 – 99

Standard Test Methods for

Evaluating the Corrosion Resistance of Powder Metallurgy
(P/M) Stainless Steel Parts/Specimens by Immersion in a
Sodium Chloride Solution1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B 895; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 4. Summary of Test Method

1.1 These test methods cover a procedure for evaluating the 4.1 Method 1 is recommended for evaluating the corrosion
ability of sintered P/M stainless steel parts/specimens to resist resistance of stainless steel powder metallurgy parts/specimens
corrosion when immersed in a sodium chloride (NaCl) solu- and to verify that proper materials and processing conditions
tion. were used.
1.2 Corrosion resistance is evaluated by one of two meth- 4.1.1 In this method, parts/specimens are immersed in 5 %
ods. In Method 1, the stainless steel parts/specimens are (by mass) NaCl solution and examined periodically until the
examined periodically and the time to the first appearance of first appearance of staining or rust. A part or specimen is
staining or rust is used to indicate the end point. In Method 2, considered to have reached the end point when the first sign of
continued exposure to the sodium chloride solution is used to corrosion occurs.
monitor the extent of corrosion as a function of time. 4.2 Method 2 is recommended for evaluating the processing
1.3 This standard does not purport to address the safety variables used in producing parts/specimens.
concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility 4.2.1 In this method, parts/specimens are exposed further to
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and the NaCL solution and periodically rated as either A, B, C, or
health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory D (A-no corrosion; D-high or extreme corrosion) by compari-
limitations prior to use. son with Fig. 1, a photograph of corroded specimens which
serves as a standard. Method 2 has been found useful in alloy
2. Referenced Documents screening and process optimization studies.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
A 380 Practice for Cleaning and Descaling Stainless Steel 5. Significance and Use
Parts, Equipment and Systems2 5.1 The ability of sintered powder metallurgy stainless steel
B 243 Terminology of Powder Metallurgy3 parts/specimens to resist corrosion when immersed in sodium
B 528 Test Method for Transverse Rupture Strength of chloride solution is important to their end use. Causes of
Sintered Metal Powder Specimens3 unacceptable corrosion may be incorrect alloy, contamination
D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water4 of the parts by iron or some other corrosion-promoting material
G 1 Practice for Preparing, Cleaning and Evaluating Corro- or improper sintering of the parts (for example, undesirable
sion Test Specimens5 carbide and nitride formations caused by poor lubricant burnoff
G 48 Test Method for Pitting and Crevice Corrosion Resis- or improper sintering atmosphere).
tance of Stainless Steel and Related Alloys By the Use of 5.2 This standard may be part of a purchase agreement
Ferric Chloride Solution5 between the P/M parts producer (seller) and the user of the
parts (purchaser) (Method 1). It may also be used to optimize
3. Terminology part or specimen production parameters (Method 2).
3.1 Definitions—Useful definitions of terms for metal pow-
ders and powder metallurgy are found in Terminology B 243. 6. Apparatus
6.1 Sealable Glass or Plastic Jars, of suitable capacity for
specimens to be completely covered by the NaCl solution.
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of Committee B-9 on Metal 6.2 Glass Beads (4 mm is recommended).
Powders and Metal Powder Products, and is the direct responsibility of Subcom- 6.3 Glass Stirring Rods.
mittee B09.05on Structural Parts.
Current edition approved April 10, 1999. Published August 1999. 6.4 Tongs (Stainless steel or plastic, nonmetallic plated).
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.01.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 02.05. 7. Reagents
4

5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01. 7.1 A sodium chloride solution consisting of 5 6 0.1 % (by
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.02.

Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 B 895

FIG. 1 Rust or Stain (Immersion in Aqueous Solution of 5 % NaCl)

mass) NaCl shall be prepared using distilled or deionized water 10. Procedure
conforming to Specification D 1193 (Type 4) and ACS reagent 10.1 Method 1:
grade NaCl solution. The 5 % NaCl solution shall be prepared 10.1.1 Place one part or specimen per jar on top of the glass
no less than 16 h before beginning the corrosion testing. beads. Add the NaCl solution to each jar so that the volume of
7.2 Concentrated HCl. solution, in millilitres, is at least five times the mass of the
7.3 Distilled or deionized water. specimen in grams. The distance from the surface of the
8. Test Specimen part/specimen to the top of the solution should be at least 25
8.1 Usually test parts are sintered parts, but they may also be mm. The ratio of the volume of air to the volume of solution in
standard transverse rupture bars as defined in Test Method a jar is recommended to be about 1:2 to 1:3. Remove air
B 528. A minimum of five parts/specimens shall be used for bubbles attached to the specimen surface and glass beads by
each test. swirling the solution or moving the specimen with a glass
8.1.1 The density of the parts or specimens as well as any stirring rod. Close the jars. Record the date and the time of the
post sintering treatments, (that is, coining, repressing, machin- start of the test. Store the immersed test specimens at a
ing, etc.) shall be stated. Parts or specimens shall be free of oil, temperature of 21 to 24°C.
dirt, grease and fingerprints. If they have been cleaned, the 10.1.2 Examine the parts/specimens after 1⁄2, 1, 2, 4, and 8
cleaning method shall be stated. Refer to Practices A 380 and h and at 24 h intervals from the onset of the test. Thereafter, the
G 1 for recommended cleaning practices. interval may be lengthened as time progresses until the first
8.1.2 The use of tongs or gloves, or both, to prevent appearance of rust or stain. The corrosion life of a part or
contamination in handling is suggested. specimen is the time of the previous examination, that is, the
last examination taken before the observation of stain or rust.
9. Preparation of Apparatus Do not include corrosion which appears at the interface
9.1 Soak previously used jars and glass beads in concen- between a part/specimen and the glass beads. This is consid-
trated HCl for at least 12 h to remove rust stains; rinse with ered to be crevice corrosion and may be evaluated by Test
distilled or deionized water, then rinse again and allow to dry. Method G 48.
9.1.1 Place the glass beads in the bottom of the beaker. Use 10.2 Method 2:
a sufficient number of beads to keep the test specimen off the 10.2.1 Method 2 follows the procedure of Method 1 through
bottom of the jar. 10.1.1. It continues with periodic examination as in 10.1.2,

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 B 895
except that testing continues beyond the first appearance of 11. Report
stain or rust. In Method 2, for each examination, the parts/ 11.1 Method 1:
specimens are ranked for the degree of staining or corrosion 11.1.1 Report the individual corrosion lives in hours as
according to the following: determined in 10.1.2 and calculate the arithmetic average.
A—The part/specimen is free from stain or rust. Acceptance criteria shall be mutually agreed upon between
B—The first sign of stain or rust appears or up to 1 % of purchaser and seller.
surface is covered by stain or rust. 11.1.2 Density of parts/specimens as well as any post-
C—More than 1 and up to 25 % of surface is covered by sintering treatments and cleaning methods (if cleaned) shall be
stain or rust. recorded.
D—More than 25 % of surface is covered by stain or rust. 11.2 Method 2:
10.2.1.1 Photographs exhibiting these conditions are shown 11.2.1 Report the time when 50 % of the parts/specimens
in Fig. 1. have an A, B, or C class rating.
10.2.1.2 Do not include corrosion which appears at the
11.2.2 Photographs of tested parts, indicating the test con-
interface between the test specimens and the glass beads. This
ditions and the number of hours tested shall be provided at the
is considered to be crevice corrosion and is not the subject of
customers request.
this test method. As a part/specimen shows increasing amounts
11.2.3 Density of parts or specimens as well as any post-
of rust, it may become necessary to use a pair of tongs to
sintering treatments and cleaning methods (if cleaned) shall be
remove it from the solution so as to distinquish between loose
recorded.
and adherent rust. Rinsing should not be used because loose
rust may be washed off.
12. Precision and Bias
10.2.2 Record the results of the timed observation at the
intervals used. Table 1 shows a typical example of a data 12.1 No repeatability and reproducibility data or informa-
collection table. tion on any bias inherent in these test methods are available at
10.2.3 Plot the percent of parts/specimens having an A, B or this time.
C class rating for suitable time intervals on a logarithmic time
scale. 13. Keywords
10.2.4 Draw curves to fit the data. A typical plot is shown in 13.1 corrosion; powder metallurgy (P/M) parts; stainless
Fig. 2. steel

TABLE 1 Example of Corrosion Rating Chart for a Set of Ten Replicate Specimens of Sintered 316L Stainless SteelA
Specimen Hours submersed in 5 % aq. NaCl
# 0.5 1 2 4 8 24 31 50 74 104 168 240 336 496 696 984 1368 1804 2282
1 A A A A A A A A B B B B C C C C D D D
2 A A A A A A A A A A B B B B C C C D D
3 A A A A A A A B B B B C C C D D D D D
4 A A A A A A A A A B B B B C C C C C D
5 A A A A A A A A A B B B B C C C C C C
6 A A A A A A A A A B B B B C C C C C D
7 A A A A A A B B B B B B C C C C C D D
8 A A A A A A A B B B B B C C C D D D D
9 A A A A A A A A B B B B B C C C C D D
10 A A A A A A A A A B B B B C C C C C D

% Holding 8A’ Rating

100 100 100 100 100 100 90 70 50 10 0

% Holding 8B’ Rating

100 90 60 10 0

% Holding 8C’ Rating

100 90 80 70 40 10
A
See Section 10.1.1 for definition of ratings.

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 B 895

FIG. 2 Plot of Percentage of Replicate Specimens with a Given Rating Versus Immersion Time

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