Accelerated Weathering Testing
Accelerated weathering is a laboratory technique for short term reproduction of the damage that sunlight and moisture cause on outdoor exposed materials in the longer term (months or years). Comparative durability data can be obtained for a wide range of materials such as coatings, adhesives, polymers, metals, wood, textiles and building materials.
Types of damage include:
- Color change
- Gloss loss
- Chalking
- Cracking
- Crazing
- Hazing
- Blistering
- Embrittlement
- Strength loss
- Oxidation
The Science
To simulate outdoor weathering, an accelerated weathering tester exposes materials to alternating cycles of UV light and moisture at controlled, elevated temperatures. It simulates the effects of sunlight using special fluorescent UV lamps and the effects of dew with condensing humidity.
The Instrumentation
The Materials and Engineering Research Institute is equipped with a QUV/se Accelerated Weathering Tester from Q-Lab Europe Ltd. This tester mounts UVA-340 lamps, which simulate sunlight in the critical short wavelength region from 365 nm down to the solar cut-off of 295 nm. The QUV/se test chamber's condensation system realistically simulates dew and accelerates its effect using elevated temperature. The QUV/se tester complies with a wide range of international, national, and industry specifications, ensuring the reliability and reproducibility of test programs.
Consultancy
This instrumentation plays an important role in many of our research and consultancy projects. Typical applications of the QUV/se Accelerated Weathering Tester are the evaluation of the weather resistance of the following materials and products:
- Paints for buildings
- Roofing materials
- Decking materials
- Protective paint systems for offshore and related structures
- Automotive materials
- Adhesives and sealants
To find out more services we can provide please submit your enquiry.
Associated services
Who to contact
For more information about Accelerated Weathering Testing at Sheffield Hallam University please contact Professor Fin O'Flaherty