What are the test cycles used in Ford L-467?

The Ford-L467 corrosion test uses controlled temperature, humidity, and salt exposure to replicate real-world corrosion. Each week includes a weekday cycle with wet, transition, and constant climate phases, and a weekend constant climate phase. The test runs at 25–50 °C and 70–95% RH using a 0.5% NaCl salt solution. Only the Q-FOG CRH corrosion tester with a swaying shower bar meets these conditions. Two versions exist—TM 00.00-L-467 and CETP 00.00-L-467—with slight differences in humidity and temperature tolerances.

Ford L-467

Ford’s Global Corrosion Test Standard

Ford's L-467 Global Laboratory Accelerated Cyclic Corrosion Test provides a controlled method for evaluating component corrosion resistance under simulated salt exposure conditions. This standardized test method replicates proving ground salt load and humidity effects through a weekly cycle of salt spray, controlled drying, and elevated temperature-humidity exposure, with the goal of enabling efficient material validation and product development. This standard is an excellent example of the automotive industry's trend towards more realistic corrosion testing with controlled relative humidity to better reproduce outdoor corrosive behavior.

Test Parameters

The test procedure uses realistic environmental conditions to accelerate corrosion development while maintaining correlation to real-world performance. Each weekly cycle combines aggressive salt exposure with temperature and humidity variations that promote corrosive activity on metal surfaces.

The specification for precisely-controlled relative humidity means that a Q-FOG CRH corrosion tester is the only Q-FOG tester capable of meeting the test conditions. Furthermore, the standard's salt spray requirements necessitate the use of a Q-FOG CRH with top-mounted swaying shower bar.

Test Cycle Structure

Weekday cycle (Monday-Friday): Wet phase / transition phase / constant climate phase
Weekend cycle (Saturday-Sunday): Constant climate phase only

Wet Phase (6 hours)

Temperature: 25 °C
Salt solution concentration: 0.5% NaCl
Precipitation rate: 5 L/m² average (3-15 L/m² local range)
Spray application: Intermittent exposure at beginning, middle, and end of phase

Transition Phase (2.5 hours)

Initial heating: 25 °C to 40 °C in 30 minutes at 95% RH (no drying)
Controlled drying: 40 °C to 50 °C over 2 hours, reducing to 70% RH

Constant Climate Phase (15.5 hours weekday / 48 hours weekend)

Temperature: 50 °C
Relative humidity: 70% RH

Note that two versions of this standard exist: TM 00.00-L-467 and CETP 00.00-L-467. Although the test cycle is consistent in both, there are some subtle but important differences.in temperature and relative humidity tolerances, collections, chamber design, panel mounting angle, and datalogging.

To learn more about these test methods, as well as how to configure your Q-Lab tester to meet these conditions, please log in to your Q-Portal account.

Why Test to Ford L-467

Automotive components can be tested according to L-467 to accelerate product development by replicating months of real-world salt exposure in weeks of lab testing. The standardized procedure ensures repeatable, comparable results worldwide, streamlining material selection, supplier qualification, and design validation. It helps identify corrosion issues early, reduce costs and warranty risks, and verify that components meet durability and appearance standards in harsh electrolyte environments.

Pros and Cons of Ford L-467

Precise control of relative humidity
- While continuous salt spray and simple cyclic tests ignore the critical intermediate regime of relative humidity, L-467 captures the full range of environmental humidity with controlled transitions and extensive periods at intermediate humidity of 70%.
Clear requirements for tester performance
- This standard has rigorous requirements for RH and temperature stability, shower collection, and gauge thickness loss. These parameters help ensure test consistency over time.
Widely-used in industry
- This internationally-recognized test method is well-established, giving a good foundation for comparative testing.

Test complexity
- Ford L-467 is a very well-defined and controlled test that may be more complicated than necessary for simple quality control and validation testing.
- The requirements for precise control of temperature and relative humidity within short-term fluctuations necessitate the use of an advanced test chamber, though the Q-FOG CRH tester is fully up to the task.

How Q-Lab Can Help

Q-FOG Cyclic Corrosion Test Chambers

Cyclic corrosion tests that include controlled relative humidity provide the best laboratory simulation of natural atmospheric corrosion. Q-Lab’s Q-FOG CRH models can maintain defined temperature and relative humidity values, recreating the same corrosive effects that occurs over several years outdoors.

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Testing Services

Q-Lab offers a full range of ISO 17025 accredited laboratory testing services in our fully-equipped laboratories in Florida and Germany. We can perform everything from simple salt spray testing to modern automotive cyclic corrosion tests. Laboratory corrosion testing can be used for quality control, material certification, durability studies, and independent third-party verification.

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