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UV aging testing, also known as UV weathering testing, does not simulate the full spectrum of sunlight, but it does reproduce the damaging effects of sunlight. This is achieved by confining the main radiation of fluorescent lamps to the ultraviolet portion of the solar spectrum.
The test equipment uses fluorescent UV lamps as the light source to simulate the UV portion of sunlight, and can also simulate the effects of dew and rain through condensation or water spray. Exposing specimens for tens of hours or even a few days in a laboratory UV aging test chamber that simulates solar UV radiation can reproduce the damage that would occur outdoors over months or years. UV aging reproduces the following degradation of products: fading, discoloration, loss of gloss, chalking, cracking, blurring, embrittlement, loss of strength, oxidation, etc.
The UV aging test can be set with three aging modes: light exposure, condensation and water spray
Light Exposure Phase
Simulates daytime light intensity in the natural environment (usually between 0.35W/m2 and 1.35W/m2, with the solar radiation intensity at summer noon being about 0.55W/m2) and the test temperature (50℃~85℃), so as to simulate various service environments of products and meet the testing requirements of different regions and industries.
Condensation Phase
Simulates the formation of condensation on the specimen surface at night. During the condensation phase, the fluorescent UV lamps are turned off (dark condition), only the test temperature is controlled (40~60℃), and the humidity at the specimen surface is 95~100%RH.
Water Spray Phase
Simulates rainfall by continuously spraying water onto the specimen surface. Since artificial UV accelerated aging conditions are much harsher than the natural environment, aging damage that would take years in the natural environment can be reproduced within days or weeks.
UVA-340: mainly used to simulate the short-to-medium wavelength range of the UV portion of sunlight, generally for light aging tests of outdoor products.
UVA-351: mainly used to simulate the short-to-medium wavelength range of the UV portion of sunlight filtered through window glass, generally for indoor products.
UVB-313: these lamps emit a substantial amount of radiation below 300 nm, which is the nominal cut-off wavelength of solar radiation. This may trigger aging phenomena that would not occur outdoors, so these lamps are not recommended for simulating sunlight. This type of test is widely used for accelerated durability testing of materials and for qualitative comparison between two or more materials.