The xenon test chamber uses a xenon arc lamp as a light source. It used for the study of weathering and accelerated aging testing by closely emulating true environmental conditions.
Controlled product degradation study (weathering), using varying light spectrum, temperature, and moisture. Used to evaluate the weather resistance of the test material or samples.
The weathering test is an important way to optimize the composition of your product in the process of scientific research and production. It is also an important part of product quality inspection. Industries such as coatings, plastic, aluminium-plastic plate, and automobile safety glass are all required to do this kind of weather ability test.
The main factors that cause the aging of materials are sunlight and moisture. The Xenon Test Chamber can simulate the degradation caused by sunlight, rain, and dew. The Xenon Test Chamber uses the xenon lamp to simulate the damage of sunlight and uses condensed moisture to simulate the rain and dew.
Advantages:
Most researchers now use natural exposure testing, the xenon arc, or the QUV weathering tester. Natural exposure testing has many advantages: it is realistic, inexpensive, and easy to perform.
The xenon test chamber reproduces the entire spectrum of sunlight, including ultraviolet (UV), visible light and infrared (IR)
It provides a more realistic study of degradation than conventional UV chamber testing. Wider spectral range and optional ultra-wide spectrum yields more real-world results.
Triple Threat: Light, Temperature and Moisture:
Light
Spectral sensitivity varies from material to material. For durable materials, like most coatings and plastics, short-wave UV is the cause of most polymer degradation. However, for less-durable materials, such as some pigments and dyes, longer-wave UV and even visible light can cause significant damage.
High Temperature
The destructive effects of light exposure are typically accelerated when temperature is increased. Although temperature does not affect the primary photochemical reaction, it does affect secondary reactions involving the by-products of the primary photon/electron collision. A laboratory weathering test must provide accurate control of temperature, and it usually should provide a means to elevate the temperature to produce acceleration.
Moisture
Dew, rain, and high humidity are the main causes of moisture damage. Research shows that objects remain wet outdoors for a surprisingly long time each day (8-12 hours daily, on average). Studies have shown that condensation, in the form of dew, is responsible for most outdoor wetness. Dew is more damaging than rain because it remains on the material for a long time, allowing significant moisture absorption.
Xenon arc testers are considered the best simulation of full-spectrum sunlight because they produce energy in the UV, visible and infrared regions. To simulate natural sunlight the xenon arc spectrum must be filtered. The filters reduce unwanted radiation and/or heat. Several types of glass filters are available to achieve various spectra. The filters used to depend on the material tested and the end-use application. Different filter types allow for varying amounts of short-wave UV, which can significantly affect the speed and type of degradation. There are three commonly used types of filters: Daylight, Window Glass, and Extended UV.
