C SERIES SALT SPRAY CHAMBERS

Yes. For stable high-humidity testing, the chamber can be run with DI water in the solution tank instead of salt solution. When humidity verification is required, the Wet Bulb option can be added to measure and document chamber humidity conditions.

When using the Auto Technology 23" × 8.5" Slotted Test Panel Tray , the following capacities can typically be achieved with small, flat test panels:

• C Series Size 20: Approximately 160 panels (4 racks)
• C Series Size 40: Approximately 360 panels (9 rack positions)

These represent maximum capacities for small, flat coupons. Larger flat panels or panels placed too closely together may create shadowing effects that interfere with proper fog exposure and reduce the practical number of specimens that can be tested at one time.

Additional support angles, support bars, shelves, and custom fixtures are available for larger components, assemblies, and non-standard specimens.

The C Series can perform both water fog humidity testing and condensing humidity testing.

For water fog humidity testing, the chamber atomizes DI water through the fog tower, creating a fine aerosol of water droplets throughout the exposure zone. This approach is commonly used for water fog exposure methods such as ASTM D1735.

For condensing humidity testing, the chamber's wet bottom and submerged heater generate water vapor inside the chamber. The vapor condenses on cooler specimen surfaces, creating the continuous moisture film required by many condensation-based humidity methods.

Because the wet bottom is standard equipment, condensing humidity capability is available out of the box without additional chamber modifications.

The C Series is built for corrosion testing, including salt spray, salt fog, and steady high-humidity exposures where the method calls for a controlled environment.

According to published specifications, a comparable 600L tester is approximately 600 liters when lid volume is included, but approximately 500 liters, or 18 ft³, when lid volume is excluded.

The Auto Technology Size 20 provides approximately 594 liters, or 20 ft³, of usable specimen exposure volume and does not include lid volume in its published capacity.

According to published specifications, a comparable 1100 L tester is approximately 1100 liters when lid volume is included, but approximately 900 liters, or 32 ft³, when lid volume is excluded.

The Auto Technology Size 40 provides approximately 1189 liters, or 40 ft³, of usable specimen exposure volume and does not include lid volume in its published capacity.

As a result, the Auto Technology chamber provides more usable testing space.

Because the lid is not testing space.

Corrosion test specimens are placed within the chamber exposure zone, not inside the lid. Including lid volume increases the published chamber size but does not increase usable specimen capacity.

Auto Technology reports the volume of the actual testing area so customers can make meaningful comparisons based on usable exposure space rather than total cabinet geometry.

Yes.

The Auto Technology Size 20 utilizes a 60-gallon solution reservoir compared to approximately 32 gallons.

This provides nearly twice the solution capacity, reducing refill frequency during long-duration corrosion tests and minimizing operator intervention.

Published comparison:

• Auto Technology Size 20 & 40: 60-gallon reservoir
• 600 & 1100: 32-gallon reservoir

For laboratories running extended ASTM B117 or ASTM G85 testing, the larger reservoir can significantly reduce maintenance and downtime associated with refilling solution.

Auto Technology intentionally separates the atomization process from the specimen exposure area using a tall baffled fog tower.

Compressed air and solution are combined within the fog tower, where the resulting fog passes through a baffle before entering the chamber exposure zone. The baffle helps remove large droplets and allows only properly atomized fog to enter the testing area.

This design helps maintain a uniform fog environment while reducing direct droplet impingement on test specimens.

By comparison, other chambers atomize solution directly within the specimen exposure area, placing the spray nozzle below the specimens.

Auto Technology's baffled fog tower design is intended to produce a more uniform exposure environment while minimizing the potential for direct spray contact with specimens.

Auto Technology uses a tall fog tower with a baffle located above the atomization point.

The baffle helps remove large droplets before they reach the specimen exposure zone and promotes the distribution of a fine fog throughout the chamber.

This approach separates atomization from specimen exposure. In contrast, some corrosion chambers place the spray nozzle directly within the specimen exposure area.

The result is a design intended to improve fog uniformity, reduce droplet impingement, and maintain more usable specimen space throughout the chamber.

Yes.

The Auto Technology fog tower extends above the specimen exposure area rather than occupying space within it.

This provides additional clearance for larger panels, assemblies, and components without relying on lid volume that is not intended for specimen placement.

Combined with the chamber's baffled fog delivery system, the design maximizes usable specimen space while maintaining proper fog distribution throughout the exposure zone.

The Auto Technology reservoir is located within the heated chamber environment.

As a result, the salt solution naturally remains at or near chamber temperature before atomization.

This approach follows the traditional ASTM B117 chamber design, where the solution reservoir is maintained within the conditioned chamber environment and exposed to the same thermal conditions as the chamber itself.

By comparison, some corrosion chambers utilize an external solution reservoir and pump the solution into the chamber from outside the heated exposure zone.

Keeping the solution within the chamber environment minimizes temperature differences between the stored solution and the chamber atmosphere before atomization.

Yes.

Salt fog chambers are designed to produce a consistent and repeatable corrosive environment. The temperature of the solution entering the atomizing nozzle can influence fog generation, condensation behavior, and chamber stabilization.

Because the Auto Technology solution reservoir is located within the conditioned chamber environment, the solution remains at or near chamber temperature prior to atomization.

This eliminates the need to introduce solution from a separate external reservoir operating at a different temperature than the chamber.

For this reason, Auto Technology continues to utilize a reservoir arrangement similar to the traditional ASTM B117 chamber architecture that has been used throughout the corrosion testing industry for decades.

The biggest differences are the heating method, construction material, and controls. The M Series uses steel construction, water-jacket heating, and legacy-style controls. The C Series uses fiberglass construction with touchscreen controls and a lower-cost platform for straightforward salt fog, salt spray, and stable humidity testing.

No. The C Series can be used for NSS, AASS, and CASS, along with other salt spray and salt fog procedures where the chamber setup matches the method.

Yes. The C Series can support CASS along with other steady-state corrosion methods. However, CASS introduces aggressive chemistry that can be difficult to fully remove from a chamber after testing. Many laboratories use a dedicated CASS chamber to reduce contamination risk when switching back to NSS or other salt fog procedures.

Yes. Options include a wet bulb, mixing tank convenience package, recirculating scrubber / jet exhaust system, and power exhaust vent kit.

Yes. The C Series requires a pressurized DI water supply for operation. The bubble tower uses DI water as part of the salt-fog generation system, so DI water quality and pressure must be planned before installation.

Yes. The mixing tank convenience package simplifies solution preparation and transfer with marked levels, fill controls, pumping, and air sparging. If you do not want to mix on site, pre-mixed salt solution is also available through the store.

Yes. Auto Technology can supply support angles, support rods, slotted support bars, slotted support racks, heavy duty shelves, salt solution, CASS solution, DI water, pH meters, start-up kits, training, and other chamber supplies.

Yes. Auto Technology supports customers with chamber configuration guidance, installation requirements, calibration documentation, training, parts availability, and long-term service support.