Seawater and Atmospheric Corrosion Laboratory

Weathering equipment

The dedicated coatings and materials testing facility at the Curtin Corrosion Centre houses a brand new salt spray chamber and an environmental chamber, which can simulate specific outdoor atmospheric conditions. Accelerated weathering tests are used to compare and study the rates of degradation of various coatings and materials under complex environmental cycles addressing specific field service environments.

Tests can be done to simulate extreme temperature fluctuations, from -40 to 180 °C and ultra-violet (UV) light exposure. The Relative Humidity range is 20 to 100%

Our research also focuses on developing life prediction models based on a combination of electrochemical methods and changes in physical properties after long-term exposures.

The weathering system at the Curtin Corrosion Centre can comply with a long list of international standards. The most relevant are:

Corrosion and cathodic protection in natural seawater

The SEA-LAB at the Curtin Corrosion Centre has a broad range of modern instruments to evaluate the performance of coatings and materials as well as the efficacy of chemical treatments in natural seawater and under simulated marine atmospheres and subsea operating conditions.

Tests in natural seawater provide an independent and comprehensive corrosion assessment of materials and coatings. The SEA-LAB is equipped for short- (typically up to 30 to 60 days) and long-term (often between 18 to 24 months) continuous measurements of electrochemical parameters such as corrosion potential, corrosion current (rate), and cathodic protection efficiency.

Our researchers regularly conduct long-term experiments in small (approximately 20 mL) or large (200 L) vessels, which can host a multitude of coupons and configurations. For example, the 200L tanks allow for potentiostatic (cathodic and anodic) tests on up to 24 independent samples simultaneously.

Materials are, thus, tested in natural seawater that can be regulated from 4°C to 100° within a 1°C range. The seawater can also be treated, e.g., flux regulation system, oxygen control, pollution, chemical treatments, etc.

The custom high-accuracy data acquisition systems can record up to 150 individual channels that can remotely be controlled and operated.

At a glance

The SEA-LAB offers:

• Tests in Australian natural seawater.
• Temperature control from 4°C to 100°C and treated.
• Complete and independent in-situ corrosion monitoring system for continuous measurements of electrochemical potential, corrosion currents (rates), and cathodic protection.
• Glass and glass-fibre reactors with volumes from 20 mL to 200 L. Larger volumes can be accommodated.
• Temperature regulation systems (water bath, cryostat, heating resistance)
• More than 150 channels for long-term data logging.
• Potentiostats/ galvanostats, including multi-channel units. 
• Cathodic disbonding tests.
• Wet parking investigations.