Accelerated Weathering - National Technical Systems (2024)

Accelerated Weathering – UV Exposure Testing

Accelerated weathering is the simulation of the damaging effects of long term exposure of coatings, materials, and products to outdoor conditions. There are a number of different types of outdoor conditions accelerated weathering addresses, including wind, rain, icing, sand and dust, and of course, UV exposure.

There are a number of standards which include accelerated weathering requirements.

• ASTM G151, Standard Practice for Exposing Nonmetallic Materials in Accelerated Test Devices that Use Laboratory Light Sources
• ASTM G154 testing, Standard Practice for Operating Fluorescent Light Apparatus for UV Exposure of Non-Metallic Materials. ASTM G154 testingusesfluorescent light sourcesto simulate UVA and UVB
• ASTM G155 Practice for Operating Xenon Arc Light Apparatus for Exposure of Non- Metallic Materials. ASTM G155 testing usesxenon arc UV light sources to simulate exposure to natural sunlight.
• British Standard BS 2782: Part 5, Method 540B (Methods of Exposure to Lab Light Sources)
• Colts Standard Test – UV Dye Resistance to Fade – QUV
• GB/T 14522 – Artificial Weathering Test Method for Plastics, Coatings, and Rubber Materials used for Machinery Industrial Products – Fluorescent UV Lamps
• SAE J2020, Accelerated Exp. of Automotive Exterior Materials Using a Fluorescent UV/Condensation Apparatus
• MIL-STD-810 Section 505.5 –Solar Radiation

Both fluorescent light sources and xenon arc UV light sources are used to predict the impact sunlight will have on a product or material. Both are used to provide simulation of indoor sun exposure and outdoor sun exposure, however xenon arc light more closely simulates natural sunlight. Xenon arc UV light is the preferred choice for testing outdoor products, thus making the ASTM G155 standard the more popular choice for manufacturers of materials and products for sunlight exposure testing.

To learn more about our accelerated weathering testing services, contact us today.

• More Environmental Testing
  • Air Contaminants / Mixed Flowing Gas
  • Altitude
  • Bird Strike
  • Corrosion
  • Explosive Atmosphere
  • Flammability
  • Fungus
  • Hail Impact
  • HALT/HASS
  • Highly Accelerated Thermal Shock
  • Humidity
  • Icing Freezing Rain
  • Immersion
  • Ingress Protection
  • Photovoltaic
  • Salt Fog, Salt Spray
  • Sand and Dust
  • Solar Radiation
  • Space Simulation
  • Temperature Humidity
  • Thermal Vacuum
  • Wind and Rain

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