Manufacturers of products ranging from military airplanes to lawnmowers all have something in common; each needs to be confident that their product can withstand the environmental conditions that their materials and components might be exposed to. Performing environmental testing that encompasses all environmental factors and the wider manufacturing process is critical and while the most accurate evaluation that can be performed is in real time and in the physical environment that is being tested for, such tests can take years to complete and cost a substantial amount. Accelerated tests provide significant savings, allowing manufacturers to narrow down a selection of proposed processes or to know if adjustments need to be made in a product or process in a timely manner.
Environmental conditions considered in accelerated tests typically include sunlight, swift temperature changes, humidity, water and salt. Such environmental effects may be commonplace, but having the capability to test and qualify a material or product under one (and especially a combination) of the above is certainly not straightforward. Multiple factors can affect results, and not just in a material’s composition; machining, application and heat treatment all have a significant impact and need to be considered when simulating performance in real world conditions.