Comparison Analysis of Xenon Test Chamber and UV Aging Chamber

Climate and sun exposure are the main causes of damage to coatings, plastics, inks and other polymeric materials. Such damage includes loss of light, fading, yellowing, cracking, peeling, embrittlement, reduced strength and delamination. Even indoor light and sunlight transmitted through glass windows can age some materials, causing pigments such as dyes to fade or discolor.
For many manufacturers, the product's resistance to aging and light is of the utmost importance. Devices that accelerate the detection of aging and light stability are widely used in research and development, quality, control, and material verification, and these test devices provide fast and repeatable test results. In recent years, low cost and easy-to-use laboratory testing equipment has been developed, including QUV UV accelerated aging equipment to ASTM G154) The Q-Sun Xenon Test Chamber is ASTM G155 compliant.
The best way to test anti-aging and light stability in a xenon lamp chamber is often controversial. For a few years, a variety of methods have been used and most researchers now use natural exposure methods, Q-Sun Xenon Arc or QUV Accelerated Weathering Test Equipment. Natural exposure testing methods have many advantages that are practical, inexpensive, and easy to handle, yet most manufacturers are reluctant to wait for a few years to see if a new, improved product design really improves.
The Q-Sun Xenon Arc Light Test Chamber and the QUV UV Accelerated Aging Chamber are the most widely used accelerated weathering test devices that have completely different testing principles. The Q-Sun Xenon Test Chamber simulates all the spectrum of sunlight, including ultraviolet (UV), visible and infrared (IR), and the xenon lamp spectrum substantially matches the spectrum of sunlight in the range of 295 nm to 800 nm (Figure 1) . Q-Sun is used to test many products that are more sensitive to long-wavelength ultraviolet, visible and infrared light.
QUV can not simulate the full spectrum of sunlight. Its principle is that for the durable materials exposed to the outdoors, the short wavelength band of 300 ~ 400nm UV is the most important cause of aging damage . It can be seen from the xenon lamp chamber that in the shortwave UV range, from 365 nm to the lowest band of sunlight, QUV can simulate sunlight very well, however it will not work for longer wavelengths.
The best way to test depends on the needs of the test, and each can be very effective. The appropriate testing equipment should be selected based on the product or material under test, the final application conditions, the degradation mode (s) and budget under consideration.
1 Aging 3 elements
Light, heat and humidity, any one of these three factors will cause the aging damage to the material, but they often play a role simultaneously, the harm caused will be greater than either one of the factors alone.
1.1 light
Different materials have different sensitivities to light. For durable materials such as most coatings, plastics, and UV, the short wave band causes most polymers to age. However, for less durable materials, such as some pigments and dyes, long wavelengths of UV and even visible light can cause severe aging.
1.2 high temperature
When the temperature increases, the destructive effect of light will also increase. Although the temperature does not affect the main photoreaction, it affects the secondary chemical reaction. Laboratory aging tests must provide precise temperature control and usually accelerate the aging process by warming up.
1.3 wet
Dew, rain and high humidity are the main causes of dampness. Studies have shown that outdoor items spend a prolonged period of time each day (an average of 8-12 hours per day in a wet state.) The study found that dew formed by moisture is a major factor in outdoor moisture, which is more damaging than dew because of its attachment The longer the material, causing more severe wet absorption.Of course, the rain on the material is also great, the rain will cause thermal shocks.For example, a hot summer day, the sudden temperature rise of the car due to the shower and Rapid cooling, it will have a shock phenomenon.Mechanical erosion caused by rain erosion will also accelerate the material aging, such as wood coating removed due to rain surface aging layer, the unexposed inner layer exposed to sunlight, resulting in further Ageing.