Climate and solar radiation are among the primary causes of degradation in paints, plastics, inks, and other polymeric materials. This includes issues like color fading, yellowing, cracking, peeling, embrittlement, loss of strength, and delamination. Even indoor lighting or sunlight passing through windows can cause aging effects, such as discoloration of dyes and pigments.
For many manufacturers, ensuring the long-term durability and lightfastness of their products is critical. Accelerated aging and light stability testing equipment is widely used in R&D, quality control, and material evaluation. These tools provide fast, consistent, and repeatable results. In recent years, affordable and user-friendly lab testing systems have emerged, such as the QUV UV accelerated aging system compliant with ASTM G154 and the Q-Sun Xenon test chamber that meets ASTM G155 standards.
When it comes to testing for aging and light stability, the best method often sparks debate. Over the years, various approaches have been used, and today most researchers rely on natural exposure, Q-Sun Xenon arc lamps, or QUV accelerated aging equipment. While natural exposure tests are cost-effective and straightforward, they require waiting several years to see if product improvements truly enhance performance, which many companies find impractical.
The Q-Sun Xenon Test Chamber and the QUV UV Accelerated Aging Chamber are two of the most commonly used accelerated aging devices. Their testing principles differ significantly. The Q-Sun chamber replicates the full spectrum of sunlight, including ultraviolet (UV), visible, and infrared (IR) light. Its xenon lamp closely mimics the sun’s spectrum from 295 nm to 800 nm, making it ideal for testing materials sensitive to UV, visible, and IR light.
In contrast, the QUV system does not simulate the full-spectrum sunlight. It focuses on the short-wavelength UV range (300–400 nm), which is the main cause of aging in Outdoor-exposed durable materials. While QUV performs well in simulating the short-wave UV region (from 365 nm to the shortest wavelength of sunlight), it lacks effectiveness at longer wavelengths.
The choice of testing method depends on the specific needs of the test. Each technique has its strengths, and selecting the right equipment should be based on the material being tested, its intended use conditions, the type of degradation expected, and the available budget.
1. Three Key Elements of Aging
Light, high temperature, and humidity are the three main factors that contribute to material aging. Although each can cause damage independently, they often work together, resulting in more severe degradation than any single factor alone.
1.1 Light Exposure
Different materials react differently to light. For durable materials like coatings and plastics, the short-wavelength UV light is usually the main cause of polymer aging. However, for less durable materials such as certain pigments and dyes, longer UV wavelengths or even visible light can lead to significant deterioration.
1.2 High Temperature
As temperatures increase, the rate of photochemical degradation also rises. Although temperature doesn’t directly affect the primary photoreaction, it influences secondary chemical reactions. Precise temperature control is essential in lab aging tests, as it helps accelerate the aging process and provides more accurate results.
1.3 Moisture
Moisture from dew, rain, or high humidity is a major cause of material damage. Studies show that items exposed outdoors are typically wet for 8–12 hours per day on average. Dew, in particular, plays a significant role in outdoor humidity. The prolonged contact of dew on surfaces leads to more severe moisture absorption compared to rain. Rain can also be damaging due to thermal shock—such as when a hot car is suddenly cooled by rain, causing stress on the materials. Additionally, the mechanical wear caused by rain can speed up aging, like washing away surface layers of wood coatings and exposing unaged inner layers to further UV exposure.
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