Accelerated Weathering Tester – UV

The accelerated weathering test simulates the atmosphere with sunlight (UV mode), dew (condensation mode), rain (thermal shock) and rain + UV (thermal shock and UV).

In a few days or weeks, the EQNA UV tester can reproduce the damage that occurs over months or years in external or internal environments with sunlight.

It predicts damage to non-metallic materials (deterioration, aging, erosion, mechanical and physical changes, humidity and shine) and reduces losses.

The test results are reliable, fast and comply with the technical standards ASTM D4329, ASTM G154, ASTM G151, ASTM G53, SAE J2020, ISO 4892-3, among others.

UVa and UVb irradiation together with the action of the weather acts as the main cause of physical/chemical damage in relation to the intensity and wavelength of light in the solar spectrum.

According to SAE J2412, the CIE 85 of the solar spectrum collected under natural weather conditions, as shown in the graph below, presents UV irradiation between 250 and 400 nm, visible light between 400 and 780 nm and infrared above 780 nm.

When the aging process is accelerated in non-metallic materials, ultraviolet fluorescent lamps within the wavelength range between 290 and 400 nm are used.

This wavelength range is more harmful to non-metallic materials, so that the technical standards – Xenon Test (Wheather o meter), recommend the calibration of xenon equipment exactly in this harmful range of the spectrum from 250 to 400 nm.

By analyzing the irradiance intensity provided by the solar spectrum collected under natural climatic conditions in relation to the wavelength of 313 nm, approximately 0.15 W/m².nm is obtained, for 340 nm the irradiance is 0.60 W/m².nm and for 351 nm approximately 0.80 W/m².nm of irradiance.

To ensure the accelerated action of the range of nonmetallic materials, Equilam supplies UVa and UVb fluorescent lamps that guarantee an intensity higher than that of the solar spectrum under natural climatic conditions, optimizing laboratory testing time and strictly meeting the standards of accelerated weathering testing techniques.

The evidence and comparisons between laboratory tests and real tests are validated under natural climatic conditions over a longer test period, to effectively prove the safety of the results collected.