Ultraviolet aging tester is the most widely used aging tester in the world. Ultraviolet will cause photodegradation of durable materials exposed outdoors. Mainly by simulating the harm caused by sunlight, rainwater, and dew to the test material. Using ultraviolet fluorescent lamps to simulate shortwave ultraviolet radiation, realistically reproducing the physical performance damage caused by sunlight. The condensation and spray system can reproduce the effects of rainwater and dew, and the test materials are placed in a cyclic program of alternating light and moisture at a certain temperature for testing. It only takes a few days or weeks to reproduce the hazards that have occurred outdoors for months to years. The types of hazards include fading, discoloration, loss of gloss, pulverization, cracking, turbidity, blistering, embrittlement, strength decline, and oxidation.
Main features:
UV UV aging testing machine, fluorescent UV lamp in the laboratory can simulate the influence of sunlight on the sample, and the condensation and water spray system can simulate the influence of rainwater and dew on the sample. Throughout the entire testing cycle, the temperature is controllable and adjustable. Typical testing method: usually UV irradiation at high temperatures and condensation cycles with a relative humidity of 100% in the dark and humid environment.
1. Simulate sunlight:
The ultraviolet rays in sunlight are the main factor causing damage to the durability of most materials. We use ultraviolet lamps to simulate the shortwave ultraviolet part of sunlight, which generates very little visible or infrared spectral energy. We can choose UV lamps with different wavelengths based on different testing requirements, as each lamp has different total UV irradiation energy and wavelength. Usually, UV lamps can be divided into two types: UVA and UVB.
2. UV lamp type:
UVA-340 lamp tube: UVA-340 lamp tube perfectly simulates long-wavelength ultraviolet light in sunlight, ranging from 365 nm to 295nm at the cutoff point of sunlight;
UVB-313 lamp tube: The short wave ultraviolet light emitted by UVB-313 lamp tube is stronger than the solar ultraviolet light typically shining on the surface of the Earth, which can maximize the acceleration of material aging. However, this lamp tube may cause unrealistic damage to certain materials. UVB-313 lamp tubes are mainly used for quality control and research and development, or for testing materials with strong weather resistance;
UVA-351 lamp tube: simulates the sunlight and ultraviolet light passing through the window glass, which is the most effective for testing the aging of indoor materials.
3. Wet condensation environment:
In many outdoor environments, materials can be damp for up to 12 hours per day. Research has shown that the main factor causing outdoor humidity is dew, not rain. UV simulates outdoor moisture erosion through its unique condensation function. During the condensation cycle during the experiment, the water in the bottom reservoir of the test chamber is heated to generate hot steam, which fills the entire test chamber. The hot steam maintains the relative humidity of the test chamber at 100% and maintains a relative high temperature. The sample is fixed on the side wall of the testing room, so that the test surface of the sample is exposed to the ambient air in the testing room. The exposure of the outer side of the sample to the natural environment has a cooling effect, resulting in a temperature difference between the inner and outer surfaces of the sample. The appearance of this temperature difference causes the sample to condense throughout the entire process
