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UV/Condensation Testers
TECHNICAL BULLETIN LU-8031
Ballast 1
Ballast
Ballast 4
Ballast 3
exposed to alternating cycles of UV light and
condensing moisture at controlled tempera-
tures. Previously, exposure conditions could be
varied only by the selection of the fluorescent
UV lamp, the timing of the UV and condensation
exposures and the temperatures of the expo-
sures. This paper examines an enhancement
to the QUV weathering tester for precise control
1 3 Detector
Sample Sample
Irradiance Control System Plane Lamps Plane
(all same age)
The irradiance control system, marketed under
the name “Solar Eye,” consists of a program-
mable controller that continuously monitors the
UV intensity via four sensors mounted in the by the operator on a regular basis. The cali-
test sample plane. A four channel feedback loop bration is traceable to the National Institute of
system maintains the programmed irradiance Standards and Technology (NIST) for ISO 9000
level by adjusting power to UV lamps. The irra- compliance.
diance level can be adjusted to varying inten- Data presented previously2 has shown that the
sities for different applications. Figure 1 shows Solar Eye control system largely eliminates
a simplified schematic of how the irradiance variations in UV intensity and therefore greatly
control system works. reduces variations in test results.
Each sensor monitors the intensity of two
lamps. Each sensor is individually calibrated
1. ASTM G53, Standard Practice for Operating Light and Water Exposure Apparatus (Fluorescent UV-Condensation Type) for Exposure of
Nonmetalic Materials, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol. 04.07, American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, 1992.
2. Fedor, G. R., Brennan, P. J., “Irradiance Control In Fluorescent UV Exposure Testers,” Accelerated and Outdoor Durability Testing of Organic
Materials, ASTM STP 1202, Warren D. Ketola, and Douglas Grossman, Eds., American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, 1993.
High Irradiance for Faster Results Exposure Results for Various
Polymers
The programmable, automatic irradiance control The programmable, automatic irradiance control
system allows the operator to choose a higher than system allows the operator to choose a higher than
standard level of irradiance for UV exposure tests. standard level of irradiance for UV exposure tests.
For many materials, this results in faster degra- For many materials, this results in faster degra-
dation and therefore shorter test times. dation and therefore shorter test times.
It is widely recognized the UVA-340 lamp is a more It is widely recognized the UVA-340 lamp is a more
realistic simulation of sunlight than the UVB-313 realistic simulation of sunlight than the UVB-313
lamp.3,4 Since its introduction, most of the plastics lamp.3,4 Since its introduction, most of the plastics
industry has switched to the UVA-340 because it industry has switched to the UVA-340 because it
gives more realistic results. However, in spite of its gives more realistic results. However, in spite of its
limitations, a large number of coatings researchers limitations, a large number of coatings researchers
continue to use the UV-B lamps because they give continue to use the UV-B lamps because they give
faster results. With the programmable controller, faster results. With the programmable controller,
the UVA-340 can now be operated at higher irra- the UVA-340 can now be operated at higher irra-
diance levels to speed up test results. Figure 2 diance levels to speed up test results. Figure 2
shows UVA-340 lamps at various irradiance levels, shows UVA-340 lamps at various irradiance levels,
compared to sunlight. compared to sunlight.
The recommended maximum increase over typical The recommended maximum increase over typical
G53 irradiance is 75%. Even though lamps are G53 irradiance is 75%. Even though lamps are
capable of higher intensity levels at full power, it is capable of higher intensity levels at full power, it is
not recommended that tests be run at levels higher not recommended that tests be run at levels higher
than 1.75x normal. There must be some excess than 1.75x normal. There must be some excess
power available to maintain the desired set point power available to maintain the desired set point
and account for such things as lamp aging and oth- and account for such things as lamp aging and oth-
er factors which reduce the maximum irradiance er factors which reduce the maximum irradiance
potential. It should be noted that lamps operated at potential. It should be noted that lamps operated at
higher than normal irradiance will have a propor- higher than normal irradiance will have a propor-
tionally shorter useful life span. tionally shorter useful life span.
Figure 2 Figure 3
1
UVA-340 60 0.83
Typical Irradiance
Gloss
Test Conditions:
QUV/se
40 Lamp: UVA-340
0.5 Reduced to .35 Irradiance: 1.35 & 0.83 W/m2/nm @ 340nm
Cycle: UV Only
20 Temperature: B.P. 50C
0 1.3
0
270 290 310 330 350 370 390 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Wavelength (nm)
Hours QUV/se Exposure
Figure 4 Figure 8
8
-0.2
7
6 Test Conditions:
delta b
delta b
Figure 5 Figure 9
Polystyrene Yellowing Vinyl Yellowing
50 30
Material:
1.3 0.83 Polycarbonate Sheet (clear) 1.3
40
20 0.83
30
delta b
delta b
Material:
20 Polystyrene Reference Matl. (clear)
Test Conditions: 10 Test Conditions:
QUV/se
QUV/se
Lamp: UVA-340
10 Irradiance: 1.35 & 0.83 W/m2/nm @ 340nm
Lamp: UVA-340
Irradiance: 1.35 & 0.83 W/m2/nm @ 340nm
Cycle: UV Only
Cycle: UV Only
Temperature: B.P. 50C
Temperature: B.P. 50C
0 0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Hours QUV/se Exposure Hours QUV/se Exposure
Figure 6 Figure 10
Vinyl Yellowing Polycarbonate Yellowing
50 50
Material: P.V.C. Film (clear) Material: CAB Sheet (clear)
1.3 1.3
40
30
30 0.83
delta b
delta b
20 Test Conditions:
QUV/se
Lamp: UVA-340
Irradiance: 1.35 & 0.83 W/m2/nm @ 340nm
20
Cycle: UV Only Test Conditions:
QUV/se
10 Temperature: B.P. 50C
Lamp: UVA-340
10 Irradiance: 1.35 & 0.83 W/m2/nm @ 340nm
Cycle: UV Only
0.83 Temperature: B.P. 50C
0 0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Hours QUV/se Exposure Hours QUV/se Exposure
Figure 7 Figure 11
Vinyl Gloss Loss Polyester
100 100
90 Material: Acrylic Sheet (clear) 90 Material: Polyester Coating (tan)
80 80
70 0.83 70 Test Conditions:
QUV/se
60 60 Lamp: UVA-340
1.3
Gloss
Gloss
delta b
Gloss
50 0.83 6
40
Test Conditions: 4 Test Conditions:
30 QUV/se QUV/se
20
Lamp: UVA-340 1.3 Lamp: UVA-340
Irradiance: 1.35 & 0.83 W/m2/nm @ 340nm 2 Irradiance: 1.35 & 0.83 W/m2/nm @ 340nm
Cycle: UV Only Cycle: UV Only
10 Temperature: B.P. 50C Temperature: B.P. 50C
0 0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Hours QUV/se Exposure Hours QUV/se Exposure
Figure 13 Figure 17
Yellowing Automotive Paint Gloss Loss
50 100
Material: ABS Sheet (white) 0.83
1.3
40 80 1.3
0.83
30 60
delta b
Gloss
Material: Automotive Coating (blue/gray)
20 40
Test Conditions: Test Conditions:
QUV/se QUV/se
10
Lamp: UVA-340
Irradiance: 1.35 & 0.83 W/m2/nm @ 340nm
20 Lamp: UVA-340
Irradiance: 1.35 & 0.83 W/m2/nm @ 340nm
Cycle: UV Only Cycle: UV Only
Temperature: B.P. 50C Temperature: B.P. 50C
0 0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Hours QUV/se Exposure Hours QUV/se Exposure
Figure 14
Polystyrene Yellowing
0
Material: Polyesthylene Sheet Effect of Moisture
-1 1.3 For materials which are sensitive to moisture, there
may be a further acceleration when moisture is
delta b
condensation at 50oC)
2
Test Conditions:
QUV/se
1 On the blue vinyl film, the UV+Moisture Cycle
Lamp: UVA-340
Irradiance: 1.35 & 0.83 W/m2/nm @ 340nm
50
UV + Moisture
40
Figure 21 shows how running an exposure test
30 Test Conditions:
20
QUV/se
Lamp: UVA-340
to a predetermined level of degradation (in this
10
Irradiance: 1.35 & 0.83 W/m2/nm @ 340nm
Cycle: UV Only case, yellowing) can cause confusion. If the expo-
sure had been terminated after a delta b of 8 was
Temperature: B.P. 50C
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 reached, the higher irradiance exposure would
Hours QUV/se Exposure
appear to be 48% faster. If the exposure had been
terminated at a delta b of 34, the higher irradiance
Figure 19 test would appear to be only 32% faster. Only run-
Urethane Gloss Loss ning the test to complete failure shows the true
relationship between the two exposures.
100
90 Material: Urethane Coating (gray)
80
Figure 21
Moisture + Dark/Dry
70
60
Comparison at Varying Levels of Yellowing
Gloss
UV + Dark/Dry
50
40 Test Conditions: 48
Material: ABS Sheet (white)
30 QUV/se
Lamp: UVA-340 1.3
20
100% UV Irradiance: 1.35 & 0.83 40
W/m2/nm @ 340nm
10 Cycle: UV Only 0.83
UV + Moisture Temperature: B.P. 50C 32
0
delta b
16
3% faster
Test Conditions:
QUV/se
Figure 20
Lamp: UVA-340
8 Irradiance: 1.35 & 0.83 W/m2/nm @ 340nm
delta b = 8 Cycle: UV Only
9 100% UV
7
UV + Dark/Dry
Test Conditions:
Figure 22 shows the same data used in the pre-
delta b
5
QUV/se
Lamp: UVA-340 vious figure. However, here the exposures were
analysed after a predetermined number of hours. If
Irradiance: 1.35 & 0.83 W/m2/nm @ 340nm
Cycle: UV Only
3 the two exposures are compared at 500 hours, the
Temperature: B.P. 50C
UV + Moisture
1 difference appears to be 100%. If they are com-
Moisture + Dark/Dry
pared at 1000 hours, the difference is 22%.
-1
0 1000 2000 3000
Hours QUV/se Exposure
Materials Tester
An even more dramatic example of this is shown These examples also illustrate why degradation
in Figure 23. After 1000 hours exposure, there is should be measured at regular intervals during an
no difference in the exposure results. However, at exposure, rather than at the end of a preset time.
1500 hours, there is an 18 to 1 difference. Because
the lower irradiance test was terminated before the
sample reached failure, there is no way to know
the actual relationship between the two exposures.
Figure 22 Figure 23
Cycle: UV Only
delta b
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