⚡ Resistance of electrical and electronic components and equipment to a salt-laden atmosphere — test Kb: cycles of salt mist from a neutral or acidified sodium chloride solution (chamber according to ISO 9227, 35 °C ± 2 K), humid condition (chamber according to IEC 60068-2-78: 93 % ± 3 % RH at 40 °C ± 2 K or above 95 % RH at 50 °C ± 2 K), dry condition and standard atmosphere, in one of eight test methods, specimen usually not energized, PN-EN IEC 60068-2-52

Electronics and EMC PN-EN IEC 60068-2-52

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN catalogue card of PN-EN IEC 60068-2-52:2018-05, in full (our translation of the Polish card text): “This part of IEC 60068-2 describes the application of the cyclic salt mist test to components or equipment designed to withstand a salt-laden atmosphere. Salt present in the atmosphere can degrade the performance of parts of equipment made of metallic and/or non-metallic materials”. We read the text of the standard in the preview of IEC 60068-2-52:2017 (edition 3.0) from the cover to clause 5.3 (humidity chamber, page 8); we do not have clauses 5.4–5.5 (standard atmosphere chamber and dry chamber), Clause 6 (salt solution, pH adjustment, filtration), Clauses 7–13 (initial measurements, preconditioning, testing — including methods 1–8 and Table 1 with the cycles — recovery, final measurements, requirements of the specification and test report) or Annexes A and B.

ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF IEC 60068-2-52:2017 (foreword, introduction, Clauses 1–5.3). The standard was prepared by IEC/TC 104 (environmental conditions, classification and methods of test). The third edition replaces the second (1996); changes: the content was harmonized with ISO 9227 as far as possible, an introduction was added, the scope simplified, references updated, the general description of the test changed, a dry chamber added, “severities” replaced by test methods, methods 7 and 8 added, test report requirements added, Figure 1 replaced by Table 1, an example of apparatus (Annex A) and a description of each method (Annex B) added. Introduction: corrosion of metals in a chloride-containing atmosphere is electrochemical, while degradation of non-metals results from complex reactions of salts with the material; the corrosion rate depends largely on the supply of oxygenated salt solution to the surface, the specimen temperature and the temperature and humidity of the environment; the test may also indicate deterioration of some non-metals by assimilation of salts; spraying is sufficient to wet the specimen thoroughly, and because it is repeated after periods in the humid condition and in the standard atmosphere, it partly reproduces natural conditions; neutral or acidified mist, humid and dry conditions are combined in various ways to accelerate corrosion of metals; the tests are accelerated compared with most conditions of use, so it is difficult to establish a single acceleration factor for all specimens, and the results often cannot be used to compare the long-term behaviour of different coating systems — the method nevertheless allows checking that the comparative quality of a metallic material is maintained; the document may involve hazardous materials and operations, and safety practices are established by the user. Scope (Clause 1): application of the cyclic salt mist test to components or equipment designed to withstand a salt-laden atmosphere, because salt can degrade the performance of parts made of metallic and non-metallic materials. Normative references: IEC 60068-1 (general), IEC 60068-2-78 (test Cab: damp heat, steady state), ISO 9227 (salt spray tests). No definitions (Clause 3). General description (Clause 4): the test consists of cyclic conditions — salt mist (also called salt spray), dry condition, humid condition and standard atmosphere; the specimen is typically not energized; salt mist — corrosion by an electrochemical or complex chemical reaction with neutral or acidified salt solution, which forms a thin electrolyte film on the surface; dry condition — heated air evaporates water from the surface, the solution concentration increases, reactions accelerate, salt precipitates on the surface; evaporation and heating rates depend on the chamber and specimen; transition from dry to humid condition — salt crystals absorb water vapour until a liquid electrolyte forms, which reinitiates corrosion; transition from mist to humid condition — maintains the wetness from the end of spraying without excessive dilution by condensation; standard atmosphere — the specimen equilibrates with laboratory conditions, gradually dries, and most reactions relax; such a period occurs in practice during breaks in operation, e.g. at weekends, and may lead to corrosion mechanisms different from constant wetness; the schedule must be chosen to respect the timelines of 9.4, and additional dry periods (e.g. at weekends) shall be avoided. Apparatus (5.1–5.3): each method includes two or more conditions, achieved in several chambers or in one chamber transitioning automatically from one condition to the next — transitions are not instantaneous; adverse effects of handling specimens during transfer between chambers must be minimized; salt mist chamber according to ISO 9227, maintaining 35 °C ± 2 K (diagram — Annex A); humidity chamber according to IEC 60068-2-78, maintaining 93 % ± 3 % relative humidity at 40 °C ± 2 K or over 95 % at 50 °C ± 2 K — this is where the part we read ends.

STATUS (cards as of 02.10.2026). The card of PN-EN IEC 60068-2-52:2018-05 in the English version (published 18-05-2018, 26 pages, price group M) does not carry the heading “Wycofana” (withdrawn): Electrotechnical Sector, KT 65 Environmental Testing of Electrical Products, ICS 19.040, “Introduces: EN IEC 60068-2-52:2018 [IDT], IEC 60068-2-52:2017 [IDT]”, “Replaces: PN-EN 60068-2-52:2001 – Polish version”. PN-EN 60068-2-52:2001 (Polish version, published 16-07-2001, introduced IEC 60068-2-52:1996, replaced PN-E-04610-02:1986) — withdrawn 18-05-2018.

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, load up to 17.09.2026, read on 02.10.2026). The number 60068-2-52 appears in 6 records at 6 laboratories in Poland: AB 044, AB 074, AB 089, AB 128, AB 1552, AB 1776. In the current scopes on the PCA website (read on 02.10.2026, issues from 07.01.2026 to 01.09.2026) the forms differ: “PN-EN IEC 60068-2-52:2018-05” (AB 1552), “PN-EN IEC 60068-2-52, Test Kb” without a year (AB 128), “PN-EN 60068-2-52:2018-05” — the 2018 edition without “IEC” (AB 074, AB 089, the latter with the suffix “E”), “IEC 60068-2-52:2017” and “IEC 60068-2-52:1996” (AB 1776), and AB 044 lists simultaneously PN-EN IEC 60068-2-52:2018-05, EN IEC 60068-2-52:2018, IEC 60068-2-52:2017 and the withdrawn PN-EN 60068-2-52:2001, EN 60068-2-52:1996 and IEC 60068-2-52:1996. No row is set in bold italics. The “Laboratories” tab searches for entries STARTING WITH the entered number: “PN-EN IEC 60068-2-52” — 3 laboratories and 3 items (AB 044, AB 128, AB 1552), “PN-EN 60068-2-52” — 3 and 3 (AB 044, AB 074, AB 089), “IEC 60068-2-52” — 5 and 5 (AB 044, AB 1776 and three Czech laboratories), “EN 60068-2-52” — 2 and 2 (AB 044 and one Czech laboratory) — checked with the tab query on the labcoda.pl production server on 02.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (items in the PCA scopes). Electrotechnical products — “test Kb — salt mist, cyclic” alongside test Ka (PN-EN IEC 60068-2-11), in a salt chamber of dimensions (0,6 × 0,8 × 1,8) m (AB 044); enclosures and electrical equipment — “resistance to corrosion in a salt mist atmosphere” alongside damp heat and IP degree of protection (AB 074); metals and alloys, plastics, composites, paint coatings — “resistance to salt fog” alongside PN-EN ISO 9227 and corporate standards (AB 089); organic and inorganic coatings, metal products — “corrosion resistance to variable environmental salt-humid conditions” alongside VDA 621-415, VDA 233-102, PV 1210 and PN-EN ISO 11997-1 (AB 128); “resistance to cyclic salt mist, test Kb” (AB 1552); components and assemblies of electrical and electronic equipment of motor vehicles — “resistance to cyclic environmental changes: neutral salt mist and climatic conditions”, (16–70) °C (AB 1776).

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. Method: since 2017 there are test methods 1–8 with different cycles instead of “severities” — the standard number alone without the method number does not define the test; severities of the 1996 edition do not translate directly into the 2017 methods. Schedule: additional dry periods (e.g. at weekends) change the corrosion mechanism — they must be avoided and the timelines of 9.4 respected. Transfer: transitions between chambers are not instantaneous, and handling specimens during transfer may wipe off salt or damage the coating. Chambers: the mist chamber must meet ISO 9227 (35 °C ± 2 K), the humidity chamber — IEC 60068-2-78 (40 °C / 93 % ± 3 % or 50 °C / > 95 %). Solution: neutral and acidified solution are different tests (6.2, pH NOT GIVEN). Conclusions: the test is accelerated — it does not give an acceleration factor or predict the durability of coating systems in service. Reference: the entry “PN-EN 60068-2-52:2018-05” (without “IEC”) does not correspond to any PKN card — the 2018 edition is designated PN-EN IEC 60068-2-52:2018-05; the edition PN-EN 60068-2-52:2001 is withdrawn.

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We do not have clauses 5.4–5.5, Clause 6 (concentration of the sodium chloride solution, pH of the neutral and acidified solution, filtration), clauses 9.1–9.6 (arrangement of specimens, spraying conditions, methods 1–8 and Table 1 with cycles, removal of specimens), Clauses 10–13 or Annexes A and B — so we do not give the composition of the solution, cycle times or the number of cycles in the individual methods.

Method principle

The specimen (usually not energized) is subjected to repeated cycles: spraying with a mist of neutral or acidified sodium chloride solution in a chamber according to ISO 9227 at 35 °C, storage in a humid condition (93 % RH at 40 °C or > 95 % RH at 50 °C), and in some methods also a dry condition and the standard atmosphere; alternating wetting and drying accelerates corrosion in a way similar to natural conditions, and the effects are assessed by final measurements according to the product specification.

Applications

• Electrical and electronic components and equipment, enclosures — resistance to a salt-laden atmosphere (marine, road), 6 laboratories
• Electrical and electronic equipment components of motor vehicles — alongside corporate standards (VDA, PV, VW)
• Coatings and metal products — checking that the comparative quality of the material is maintained

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN IEC 60068-2-52:2018-05 (wersja angielska; EN IEC 60068-2-52:2018 IDT, IEC 60068-2-52:2017 IDT)

Title (PL)

Badania środowiskowe — Część 2: Próby — Próba Kb: Mgła solna, cykliczna (roztwór chlorku sodu)

Title (EN)

Environmental testing — Part 2-52: Tests — Test Kb: Salt mist, cyclic (sodium chloride solution)

Step-by-step procedure

1. Specification and initial measurements

   Choice of the test method (1–8) and measurements according to the product specification; initial measurements and preconditioning (Clauses 7–8, 12). PN-EN IEC 60068-2-52:2018-05 current (cards as of 02.10.2026).

2. Preparing the solution and chambers

   Neutral or acidified sodium chloride solution (Clause 6); mist chamber 35 °C ± 2 K according to ISO 9227, humidity chamber according to IEC 60068-2-78.

3. Cycles

   Spraying, humid condition, in some methods dry condition and standard atmosphere — according to Table 1 for the chosen method (times NOT GIVEN); specimen usually not energized; no additional dry breaks.

4. Removal and recovery

   Removal of specimens and recovery after the test (9.6, Clause 10 — details NOT GIVEN); careful transfer.

5. Final measurements and report

   Measurements and inspection according to the product specification; in the report the test method and deviations (Clauses 11 and 13).

Required equipment and apparatus

Reagents, media and consumables

Health and safety (OHS)

• Salt mist and acidified solutions irritate the eyes and respiratory tract — open the chamber after spraying has ended, goggles and gloves; the standard reminds that safety practices are established by the user
• SUBSTANTIVE NOTE: the result depends on the method number (1–8), which must be stated; an accelerated test does not predict durability in service; the entry “PN-EN 60068-2-52:2018-05” without “IEC” does not correspond to any PKN card

Frequently asked questions