Metal switch corrosion test report: Which material has a longer life?

Metal switch corrosion test report: Which material has a longer life?

Metal switches are widely used in industrial equipment, automotive electronics, security systems, and home appliance control applications. Their corrosion resistance directly determines the stability and service life of the product. As the requirements for weather resistance and reliability in different application environments continue to increase, the material selection of metal switches has gradually become the focus of users. So, which metal material metal switch performs better in corrosion resistance tests? This article will conduct an in-depth analysis based on the test results.

Metal switches are usually divided into several categories according to the material, such as stainless steel (such as 304, 316), zinc alloy, aluminum alloy, and copper alloy. There are obvious differences in the resistance of different materials to corrosive environments. In order to verify the corrosion resistance of different metal switches, the engineering team selected several common metal switches on the market and conducted neutral salt spray tests (NSS), acid salt spray tests (AASS) and high temperature and high huｍidity tests.

In the neutral salt spray test, the 304 stainless steel material of the metal switch performed stably. After 72 hours of salt spray spraying, no obvious corrosion spots or oxide layer shedding appeared. The 316 stainless steel went a step further and could withstand a highly corrosive environment for more than 120 hours. The surface was as smooth as new, making it the material with the best corrosion resistance. The zinc alloy metal switch began to darken and slightly peel after about 48 hours, and was not suitable for equipment exposed to high salinity environments for a long time.

Although the copper alloy version of the metal switch has excellent conductivity, it is prone to green rust in hot and huｍid and acidic environments. Without special anti-corrosion treatment, corrosion marks appeared in about 36 hours during the test. In contrast, the aluminum alloy metal switch with anodized surface is slightly inferior in physical strength, but with its oxide film protection, it can remain stable for 72 hours, making it a cost-effective choice in a neutral environment.

The metal switch was exposed to a high temperature and high huｍidity test chamber (85°C, 85％RH) for 168 hours. The test found that 316 stainless steel and anodized aluminum alloy performed the most stably among all samples, with no obvious structural aging or conductivity loss, which is particularly important for industrial automation equipment and outdoor control terminals that need to operate stably for a long time.

The use environment and functional requirements of the metal switch determine the choice of material. If the equipment is located at the seaside, chemical plant or under extreme climatic conditions, it is recommended to use 316 stainless steel first; for consumer electronics or control panel equipment that pursues lightweight and medium protection, anodized aluminum can be used; if it is only used in indoor, low huｍidity environments, zinc alloy metal switches still have a high cost performance.

The conclusion shows that the life of the metal switch depends not only on the internal structure and electrical performance, but also on the shell material and protection process. Choosing a material with strong corrosion resistance is the key to ensuring its long-term operation. In the production process of metal switches, Bubujing Technology provides customized material solutions for different application scenarios and introduces multiple reliability test standards to ensure that each metal switch can withstand the test of time and environment.