Weathering Testing

Sunlight, heat and moisture can cause serious product deterioration–such as fading, color change, cracking, peeling, oxidation or loss of strength.  Damage from weathering or corrosion occurs both outdoors and indoors, and its severity can vary greatly in different climates. Even materials that are resistant to sunlight alone or to moisture alone often fail when exposed to sunlight and moisture in combination.

CRT Labs now offers weathering testing using the latest Q-Lab weatherability testing equipment. Whether your need is to test the damaging wavelengths of light encountered either indoors or outdoors, or weathering testing related to moisture exposure, CRT Labs has a solution.
 

Full-Spectrum Sunlight
CRT Laboratories' Q-Sun Xenon Test Chamber reproduces the damaging wavelengths of light encountered either indoors or outdoors. Xenon lamps emit ultraviolet, visible and infrared light. Studies have show that filtered Xenon arc lamps are  the best method to  test products such as pigments, dyes and inks, which may be sensitive to the longer UV wavelengths and visible wavelengths of sunlight.

Accelerated Weathering Testing
In just a few days or weeks, with the use of  the Q-Lab QUV, CRT Laboratories can reproduce damage that may occur over months or even years outdoors. The QUV is recognized as the most sophisticated equipment designed for accelerated weathering testing.

Ultraviolet Light Ultraviolet light causes almost all the photo degradation to materials exposed outdoors. CRT Laboratories' outdoor exposure testing equipment reproduces only the UV portion of the spectrum. By using a  UVA-340 lamp, we have the best available simulation of short-wave sunlight. The  UVA-340 lamp's use is especially valuable when comparing the performance of different types of polymers and stabilizers. It is also the best lamp for correlation studies.

Moisture Simulation Products outdoors can be exposed to moisture in the form of dew for up to 15 hours per day. CRT Laboratories' outdoor exposure testing provides a rigorous, yet highly realistic, moisture exposure with cycles of hot condensing humidity. With the use of the QUV weatherability testing equipment, a spray can simulate the effects of rain, such as thermal shock and erosion, giving you realistic weather exposure data.

General
IEC 68-2-9, Basic Environmental Testing Procedures-Part 2:Guidance for Solar Radiation Testing
ISO 4892-1, Plastics-Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources-Part 1: General Guidance
ASTM G151, General Guidelines for Exposure of Nonmetallic Materials
ASTM G155, Xenon-Arc Test Apparatus for Exposure of Nonmetallic Materials

Automotive
SAE J2412, Accelerated Exposure of Automotive Interior Trim Components Using a Controlled Irradiance Xenon-Arc Apparatus
SAE J2527, Accelerated Exposure of Automotive Exterior Materials Using a Controlled Irradiance Xenon-Arc Apparatus

Coatings
SO 11341, Paints and varnishes - Artificial weathering and exposure to artificial radiation - Exposure to filtered xenon-arc radiation
ASTM D3451, Testing Coating Powders and Powder Coatings
ASTM D3794, Testing Coil Coatings
ASTM D6577, Standard Guide for Testing Industrial Protective Coatings
ASTM D6695, Xenon-Arc Exposures of Paints and Related Coatings
GB 1865, Paints and varnishes - Artificial weathering and exposure to artificial radiation- Filtered xenon arc radiation
JIS K 5600-7-7, Testing Methods for Paints - Part 7: Long-Period Performance of Film - Section 7: Accelerated Weathering (Exposure to Filtered Xenon Arc)
MPI: #113, Exterior, Waterborne, Pigmented Elastomeric Coating
MS 133: Part F14, Methods of Test for Paints & Varnishes: Part F14: Artificial Weathering & Exposure to Artificial Radiation – Exposure to Filtered Xenon Arc Radiation (ISO 11341)

Pharmaceutical
ICH Guideline, Stability Testing: Photostability Testing of New Drug Substances and Products

Plastics
ISO 4892-2, Plastics-Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources-Part 2: Xenon-arc sources
JIS K 7350-2, Plastics-Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources-Part 2: Xenon-arc sources
DIN EN 513, Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC-U) profiles for fabrication of windows & doors
ASTM D1248 , Polyethylene Plastic Extrusion Materials for Wire and Cable
ASTM D2565 , Xenon-Arc – Plastics for Outdoor Applications
ASTM D4101, Polypropylene Plastic Injection and Extrusion Materials
ASTM D4459 , Xenon-Arc – Plastics for Indoor Applications
ASTM D5071, Xenon-Arc Exposure of Photodegradable Plastics
ASTM D6662, Plastic Lumber Decking Boards
UL 1581, Reference Standard for Electrical Wires, Cables & Flexible Cords

Geotextiles
ASTM D4355, Deterioration of Geotextiles to UV Light

Textiles
AATCC TM 16, Colorfastness to Light
AATCC TM 169,Weather Resistance of Textiles: Xenon Lamp Exposure
GB/T-8430, Textiles - Tests for colorfastness - Colorfastness to artificial weathering: Xenon arc fading lamp test
IS: 2454, Indian Standard- Method for Determination of Colour Fastness of Textile Materials to Artificial Light (Xenon Lamp)

Printing Inks/ Artists' Materials/ Paper
ISO 11798, Information and documentation – Permanence of writing, printing & copying on paper
ISO 12040, Graphic Technology - Prints and printing inks
ISO 18909, Imaging Materials – Processed photographic colour films and paper prints
ASTM D3424, Lightfastness of Printed Matter
ASTM D4303 , Lightfastness of Artists’ Pigments
ASTM D5010, Testing Printing Inks & Related Materials
ASTM D6901, Standard Specification for Artists’ Colored Pencils
ASTM F2366, Lightfastness of Ink Jet Prints Exposed to Window Filtered Daylight

Roofing
ASTM D4434, Poly Vinyl Chloride Sheet Roofing
ASTM D4637, EPDM Sheet Used in Single-Ply Roof Membrane
ASTM D4798, Xenon-Arc – Bituminous Materials
ASTM D4811, Nonvulcanized Rubber Sheet Used as Roof Flashing
ASTM D5019, Reinforced Non-Vulcanized Polymeric Sheet
ASTM D6083, Liquid Applied Acrylic Coatings Used in Roofing

Rubber
ISO 3865, Rubber, Vulcanized or Thermoplastic – Methods of test for staining on contact with organic materials
ISO 4665, Rubber, Vulcanized or Thermoplastic – Resistance to weathering

Adhesives
ASTM D904, Exposure of Adhesive Specimens to Artificial Light
ASTM C1442, Conducting Tests on Sealants Using Artificial Weathering Apparatus
ASTM C1501, Standard Test Method for Color Stability of Building Construction Sealants

Sealants
ASTM C1442, Conducting Tests on Sealants Using Artificial Weathering Apparatus
ASTM C1501, Color Stability of Sealants

Packaging
ASTM D6551, Accelerated Weathering of Pressure-Sensitive Tapes by Xenon Arc