Salt spray testing, also known as salt fog testing, is a test that is designed to simulate a corrosive environment. In simple terms, this testing helps product designers and manufacturers check out the corrosion resistance of surface coatings.

Salt spray testing has existed for decades and is widely used in several industries to test against corrosion. For example, the durability of a fastener depends on how it performs in a corrosive environment. If a fastener gets rusted, it is much more prone to failure. This is where salt spray testing comes in.

In summary, salt spray testing is an important accelerated test that simulates a corrosive environment to a large extent though it is impossible to recreate real-world conditions in a laboratory setting. It is a standardised corrosion test method that does not cost much, is quick to perform, and can be repeated quickly.