Weathering testing is used to give confidence in the final product performance, with our accelerated weathering facility we can help determine the effects of weathering on products and materials. This gives our clients evidence to show the durability of their products. Weathering can also be used for the quality control of materials and products, particularly in the automotive industry. Exterior durability investigations can show the ability of a product to resist external forces.
Ultraviolet light causes almost all the photo degradation that materials experience when exposed outdoors. Our chambers reproduce the UV and other portion of the spectrum which effects such materials. Our lamps are some of the best available for simulation of sunlight. It is especially useful for comparing the performance of different types of polymers and stabilizers.
Material certification can demonstrate compliance with national and international standards, and here at JCS Technology we can act as an independent third party wherever third-party verification of test results are required.
Indoor or Accelerated Weathering
The best way to test materials / products is actual outdoor exposures, sometimes it’s not possible to wait a year or two for real-time test results. We can give you fast, and reliable weatherability, lightfastness, colourfastness, and photostability data using our accelerated weathering chambers. At JCS Technology we have increased our capacity with our new purpose built weathering laboratory. The extra capacity enables us to give our Client an even better service, with Xenon Arc and Fluorescent chambers we are able to offer a full range of weathering tests.
A range of options are available:
- QUV Ultraviolet Fluorescent UV-B or UV-A
- Xenon Arc - Most accelerated weathering applications
- Xenon Arc + modification - Specific to Military applications
Post Exposure Testing
Gloss, Grey Scales and colour are just some of the tests that can be performed to show the effects of weathering.
Moisture Simulation
Products outdoors can be exposed to moisture, in the form of dew, for up to 15 hours per day. Our weatherometers provide a rigorous, yet highly realistic, moisture exposure with cycles of hot condensing humidity. Using a water spray we can simulate the effects of rain, such as thermal shock and erosion.
Standards
Testing can be conducted to a range of standards such as BS, EN, ISO, ASTM and DIN including:
- BS EN ISO 4892 Methods of exposure to laboratory light.
- MIL-STD- 810 American Military standard for Environmental Testing. UV exposure critical part of this testing
- PV 3930 Volkswagen-Weathering in moist, hot climate
- PV 3929 -- Volkswagen-Weathering in Dry, hot climate
- Nissan NES M0135 Weatherability and light resistance for plastics-Interior and exterior parts
- ISO 4892-2 –Exposure to light sources-Xenon arc lamps-this is the basic test standard.
- ASTM G155 Test procedure for Xenon arc exposure for non-metallic materials
- ASTM D2565 Test procedure for Xenon arc exposure for outdoor applications
- ASTM D4459 Xenon arc exposure-generally for indoor applications
- SAE J2412 Surface Vehicle Standard Accelerated exposure for Interior trim components
- SAE J2527 Surface Vehicle Standard Accelerated exposure for Interior trim components
Fluorescent/UV Weathering:
- SAE J2020 Weathering of exterior materials using Fluorescent UV and condensation Apparatus.
- DIN 53.387 Very similar to ISO 4892. Using Fluorescent tubes as opposed to an Xenon Arc, different tubes give a different spectral distribution.