From weathering testing to photo-medical studies - Applications of the Atlas SUNTEST®

SUNTEST are easy-to-use weathering, lightfastness, and photostability devices specially designed for 3-D specimens testing. Since the field of SUNTEST applications is very large, the goal of this webinar is to cover both the most used tests as well as a few specials. We will provide background information for each application and give you guidelines on how to run them using your SUNTEST.

SUNTEST are easy-to-use weathering, lightfastness, and photostability devices specially designed for 3-D specimens testing. Since the field of SUNTEST applications is very large, the goal of this webinar is to cover both the most used tests as well as a few specials. We will provide background information for each application and give you guidelines on how to run them using your SUNTEST.

Light stability and shelf-life testing of cosmetics

Natural products have gone mainstream more and more for cosmetic products. Today’s consumers want cosmetics that are minimally processed and free of artificial colors, scents, and additives. However, your work with new ingredients and development of new products could include challenges for your products’ stability and shelf-life.

How will your new products fare with respect to light stability?

Atlas knows and shares valuable insights on instruments and test methods for accelerated light stability and shelf-life testing.

Natural products have gone mainstream more and more for cosmetic products. Today’s consumers want cosmetics that are minimally processed and free of artificial colors, scents, and additives. However, your work with new ingredients and development of new products could include challenges for your products’ stability and shelf-life.

How will your new products fare with respect to light stability?

Atlas knows and shares valuable insights on instruments and test methods for accelerated light stability and shelf-life testing.

Weathering Testing of Coatings – Principles and Test Methods

There is a wide range of technical coatings based on different composition and application processes. Often these coatings have simple decorative purposes. However, coatings are also used to protect the substrate from corrosion, mechanical impact, and other environmental stress factors. The coating properties themselves might be affected by environmental stress factors such as solar radiation, heat, and moisture. For each application, it is important that the coating retains the desired properties during the service life of the product.

Substrates can be metals, composites, wood, and/or plastics. For each application and substrate, the type of coating and its specific sensitivities might be different. Most coatings have in common, that they are sensitive to moisture, especially to moisture cycles.

In this webinar we address general weathering degradation modes and effects of coatings and how these can be tested best using different natural and artificial accelerated test methods.

There is a wide range of technical coatings based on different composition and application processes. Often these coatings have simple decorative purposes. However, coatings are also used to protect the substrate from corrosion, mechanical impact, and other environmental stress factors. The coating properties themselves might be affected by environmental stress factors such as solar radiation, heat, and moisture. For each application, it is important that the coating retains the desired properties during the service life of the product.

Substrates can be metals, composites, wood, and/or plastics. For each application and substrate, the type of coating and its specific sensitivities might be different. Most coatings have in common, that they are sensitive to moisture, especially to moisture cycles.

In this webinar we address general weathering degradation modes and effects of coatings and how these can be tested best using different natural and artificial accelerated test methods.

Weathering Testing of Coatings – Principles and Test Methods

There is a wide range of technical coatings based on different composition and application processes. Often these coatings have simple decorative purposes. However, coatings are also used to protect the substrate from corrosion, mechanical impact, and other environmental stress factors. The coating properties themselves might be affected by environmental stress factors such as solar radiation, heat, and moisture. For each application, it is important that the coating retains the desired properties during the service life of the product.

Substrates can be metals, composites, wood, and/or plastics. For each application and substrate, the type of coating and its specific sensitivities might be different. Most coatings have in common, that they are sensitive to moisture, especially to moisture cycles.

In this webinar we address general weathering degradation modes and effects of coatings and how these can be tested best using different natural and artificial accelerated test methods.

There is a wide range of technical coatings based on different composition and application processes. Often these coatings have simple decorative purposes. However, coatings are also used to protect the substrate from corrosion, mechanical impact, and other environmental stress factors. The coating properties themselves might be affected by environmental stress factors such as solar radiation, heat, and moisture. For each application, it is important that the coating retains the desired properties during the service life of the product.

Substrates can be metals, composites, wood, and/or plastics. For each application and substrate, the type of coating and its specific sensitivities might be different. Most coatings have in common, that they are sensitive to moisture, especially to moisture cycles.

In this webinar we address general weathering degradation modes and effects of coatings and how these can be tested best using different natural and artificial accelerated test methods.

Light stability and shelf-life testing of cosmetics

Natural products have gone mainstream more and more for cosmetic products. Today’s consumers want cosmetics that are minimally processed and free of artificial colors, scents, and additives. However, your work with new ingredients and development of new products could include challenges for your products’ stability and shelf-life.

How will your new products fare with respect to light stability?

Atlas knows and shares valuable insights on instruments and test methods for accelerated light stability and shelf-life testing.

Natural products have gone mainstream more and more for cosmetic products. Today’s consumers want cosmetics that are minimally processed and free of artificial colors, scents, and additives. However, your work with new ingredients and development of new products could include challenges for your products’ stability and shelf-life.

How will your new products fare with respect to light stability?

Atlas knows and shares valuable insights on instruments and test methods for accelerated light stability and shelf-life testing.

Accelerated Outdoor Weathering: EMMAQUA

Accelerated outdoor weathering with linear Fresnel-reflecting concentrators that follow the path of the sun and concentrate solar radiation onto the test specimen is well established (see e.g. ASTM G90). The use of natural solar radiation often results in degradation processes that are very similar to those observed in static outdoor weathering. Rain and dew can be simulated by spraying the specimen with deionized water.

Since traditional mirrors concentrate the entire solar spectrum, substrates with poor thermal conductivity, such as plastics or composites, are usually not suitable, as they can easily overheat and be thermally decomposed. Coatings on substrates with good thermal conductivity, such as metals, can, however, be effectively cooled from the rear with air and are therefore usually very suitable.

A more recent development in accelerated outdoor weathering is the use of so-called “cool mirrors” (CM), which mainly reflect UV and short-wave visible, but not infrared radiation. This results in much lower specimen temperatures compared to traditional mirrors. This enables temperature-sensitive materials to be tested.

Accelerated outdoor weathering with linear Fresnel-reflecting concentrators that follow the path of the sun and concentrate solar radiation onto the test specimen is well established (see e.g. ASTM G90). The use of natural solar radiation often results in degradation processes that are very similar to those observed in static outdoor weathering. Rain and dew can be simulated by spraying the specimen with deionized water.

Since traditional mirrors concentrate the entire solar spectrum, substrates with poor thermal conductivity, such as plastics or composites, are usually not suitable, as they can easily overheat and be thermally decomposed. Coatings on substrates with good thermal conductivity, such as metals, can, however, be effectively cooled from the rear with air and are therefore usually very suitable.

A more recent development in accelerated outdoor weathering is the use of so-called “cool mirrors” (CM), which mainly reflect UV and short-wave visible, but not infrared radiation. This results in much lower specimen temperatures compared to traditional mirrors. This enables temperature-sensitive materials to be tested.

Weathering Reference Materials

Standard reference or control materials are recommended for the validation of accelerated test methods and for control of the instrument performance. Here we show how common reference materials (e.g. ISO or AATCC blue wool scale, SAE Polystyrene, PERS and others) are used effectively to increase reproducibility and repeatability in weathering testing.

Standard reference or control materials are recommended for the validation of accelerated test methods and for control of the instrument performance. Here we show how common reference materials (e.g. ISO or AATCC blue wool scale, SAE Polystyrene, PERS and others) are used effectively to increase reproducibility and repeatability in weathering testing.

Part 1: Fundamentals of Weathering

This seven-part successive series covers the fundamentals of natural and accelerated weathering, basics of photochemical degradation, and methodologies for understanding and improving correlation and acceleration. Participants will learn through proven theoretical concepts and practical research examples from industries that take a leading-edge approach to assessing service life prediction of materials.

This seven-part successive series covers the fundamentals of natural and accelerated weathering, basics of photochemical degradation, and methodologies for understanding and improving correlation and acceleration. Participants will learn through proven theoretical concepts and practical research examples from industries that take a leading-edge approach to assessing service life prediction of materials.

Comparison of Xenon-arc and Fluorescent-UV Technology and Applications

A common weathering question is “Which method shows better correlation; Fluorescent UV or Xenon-arc weathering”. Very often the answer is simplified to: Xenon-arc should be used if color change is an issue, Fluorescent UV should be used if matrix degradation is an issue. However, the answer is typically much more complex. This online seminar should help you to identify which testing technology is most suitable for your application. “When can Fluorescent UV be an economical testing option? When there is no alternative to Xenon-arc? What can be done for both methods to get the most meaningful results?”

A common weathering question is “Which method shows better correlation; Fluorescent UV or Xenon-arc weathering”. Very often the answer is simplified to: Xenon-arc should be used if color change is an issue, Fluorescent UV should be used if matrix degradation is an issue. However, the answer is typically much more complex. This online seminar should help you to identify which testing technology is most suitable for your application. “When can Fluorescent UV be an economical testing option? When there is no alternative to Xenon-arc? What can be done for both methods to get the most meaningful results?”

Temperature Effects in Artificial and Natural Weathering

The surface temperature of a material exposed to natural sunlight or to artificial Xenon-arc radiation is critical for its degradation behavior. In this webinar we present how surface temperatures can be measured in weathering setups and which test parameters will influence the surface temperature. We will show models and examples how the surface temperature influences the degradation process.

The surface temperature of a material exposed to natural sunlight or to artificial Xenon-arc radiation is critical for its degradation behavior. In this webinar we present how surface temperatures can be measured in weathering setups and which test parameters will influence the surface temperature. We will show models and examples how the surface temperature influences the degradation process.

Test Method Development

Solar radiation, heat, and water are acting synergistically on materials and components, causing ageing processes and ultimately product failure. Accelerated weathering instruments simulate and control these primary weather factors.

This seminar explains how to develop a realistic, precise, and correlating accelerated weathering test method. The starting point is always the end-use environment, from which worst case conditions are derived, which are then translated into test parameters. ASTM D7869 is a recent example of such test method development.

Often, multiple laboratory and outdoor weathering tests are combined into a “test program” that includes materials, components, and the final product. Examples from the automotive and PV industries will be discussed.

Solar radiation, heat, and water are acting synergistically on materials and components, causing ageing processes and ultimately product failure. Accelerated weathering instruments simulate and control these primary weather factors.

This seminar explains how to develop a realistic, precise, and correlating accelerated weathering test method. The starting point is always the end-use environment, from which worst case conditions are derived, which are then translated into test parameters. ASTM D7869 is a recent example of such test method development.

Often, multiple laboratory and outdoor weathering tests are combined into a “test program” that includes materials, components, and the final product. Examples from the automotive and PV industries will be discussed.

Temperature Effects in Artificial and Natural Weathering

The surface temperature of a material exposed to natural sunlight or to artificial Xenon-arc radiation is critical for its degradation behavior. In this webinar we present how surface temperatures can be measured in weathering setups and which test parameters will influence the surface temperature. We will show models and examples how the surface temperature influences the degradation process.

The surface temperature of a material exposed to natural sunlight or to artificial Xenon-arc radiation is critical for its degradation behavior. In this webinar we present how surface temperatures can be measured in weathering setups and which test parameters will influence the surface temperature. We will show models and examples how the surface temperature influences the degradation process.

Accelerated Outdoor Weathering: EMMAQUA

Accelerated outdoor weathering with linear Fresnel-reflecting concentrators that follow the path of the sun and concentrate solar radiation onto the test specimen is well established (see e.g. ASTM G90). The use of natural solar radiation often results in degradation processes that are very similar to those observed in static outdoor weathering. Rain and dew can be simulated by spraying the specimen with deionized water.

Since traditional mirrors concentrate the entire solar spectrum, substrates with poor thermal conductivity, such as plastics or composites, are usually not suitable, as they can easily overheat and be thermally decomposed. Coatings on substrates with good thermal conductivity, such as metals, can, however, be effectively cooled from the rear with air and are therefore usually very suitable.

A more recent development in accelerated outdoor weathering is the use of so-called “cool mirrors” (CM), which mainly reflect UV and short-wave visible, but not infrared radiation. This results in much lower specimen temperatures compared to traditional mirrors. This enables temperature-sensitive materials to be tested.

Accelerated outdoor weathering with linear Fresnel-reflecting concentrators that follow the path of the sun and concentrate solar radiation onto the test specimen is well established (see e.g. ASTM G90). The use of natural solar radiation often results in degradation processes that are very similar to those observed in static outdoor weathering. Rain and dew can be simulated by spraying the specimen with deionized water.

Since traditional mirrors concentrate the entire solar spectrum, substrates with poor thermal conductivity, such as plastics or composites, are usually not suitable, as they can easily overheat and be thermally decomposed. Coatings on substrates with good thermal conductivity, such as metals, can, however, be effectively cooled from the rear with air and are therefore usually very suitable.

A more recent development in accelerated outdoor weathering is the use of so-called “cool mirrors” (CM), which mainly reflect UV and short-wave visible, but not infrared radiation. This results in much lower specimen temperatures compared to traditional mirrors. This enables temperature-sensitive materials to be tested.

Part 2: Natural and Outdoor Weathering

This seven-part successive series covers the fundamentals of natural and accelerated weathering, basics of photochemical degradation, and methodologies for understanding and improving correlation and acceleration. Participants will learn through proven theoretical concepts and practical research examples from industries that take a leading-edge approach to assessing service life prediction of materials.

This seven-part successive series covers the fundamentals of natural and accelerated weathering, basics of photochemical degradation, and methodologies for understanding and improving correlation and acceleration. Participants will learn through proven theoretical concepts and practical research examples from industries that take a leading-edge approach to assessing service life prediction of materials.

Weathering Reference Materials

Standard reference or control materials are recommended for the validation of accelerated test methods and for control of the instrument performance. Here we show how common reference materials (e.g. ISO or AATCC blue wool scale, SAE Polystyrene, PERS and others) are used effectively to increase reproducibility and repeatability in weathering testing.

Standard reference or control materials are recommended for the validation of accelerated test methods and for control of the instrument performance. Here we show how common reference materials (e.g. ISO or AATCC blue wool scale, SAE Polystyrene, PERS and others) are used effectively to increase reproducibility and repeatability in weathering testing.

Part 3: Laboratory Weathering Fundamentals

This seven-part successive series covers the fundamentals of natural and accelerated weathering, basics of photochemical degradation, and methodologies for understanding and improving correlation and acceleration. Participants will learn through proven theoretical concepts and practical research examples from industries that take a leading-edge approach to assessing service life prediction of materials.

This seven-part successive series covers the fundamentals of natural and accelerated weathering, basics of photochemical degradation, and methodologies for understanding and improving correlation and acceleration. Participants will learn through proven theoretical concepts and practical research examples from industries that take a leading-edge approach to assessing service life prediction of materials.

Part 4: Laboratory Weathering Light Sources and Correlation with Nature

This seven-part successive series covers the fundamentals of natural and accelerated weathering, basics of photochemical degradation, and methodologies for understanding and improving correlation and acceleration. Participants will learn through proven theoretical concepts and practical research examples from industries that take a leading-edge approach to assessing service life prediction of materials.

This seven-part successive series covers the fundamentals of natural and accelerated weathering, basics of photochemical degradation, and methodologies for understanding and improving correlation and acceleration. Participants will learn through proven theoretical concepts and practical research examples from industries that take a leading-edge approach to assessing service life prediction of materials.

Part 5: Increasing Confidence in Correlation Through Improvements in Xenon Filtering

This seven-part successive series covers the fundamentals of natural and accelerated weathering, basics of photochemical degradation, and methodologies for understanding and improving correlation and acceleration. Participants will learn through proven theoretical concepts and practical research examples from industries that take a leading-edge approach to assessing service life prediction of materials.

This seven-part successive series covers the fundamentals of natural and accelerated weathering, basics of photochemical degradation, and methodologies for understanding and improving correlation and acceleration. Participants will learn through proven theoretical concepts and practical research examples from industries that take a leading-edge approach to assessing service life prediction of materials.

Part 6: Acceleration – Assessments and Considerations in Weathering Testing

This seven-part successive series covers the fundamentals of natural and accelerated weathering, basics of photochemical degradation, and methodologies for understanding and improving correlation and acceleration. Participants will learn through proven theoretical concepts and practical research examples from industries that take a leading-edge approach to assessing service life prediction of materials.

This seven-part successive series covers the fundamentals of natural and accelerated weathering, basics of photochemical degradation, and methodologies for understanding and improving correlation and acceleration. Participants will learn through proven theoretical concepts and practical research examples from industries that take a leading-edge approach to assessing service life prediction of materials.

Part 7: Assessing Correlation Through Statistical Analysis

This seven-part successive series covers the fundamentals of natural and accelerated weathering, basics of photochemical degradation, and methodologies for understanding and improving correlation and acceleration. Participants will learn through proven theoretical concepts and practical research examples from industries that take a leading-edge approach to assessing service life prediction of materials.

This seven-part successive series covers the fundamentals of natural and accelerated weathering, basics of photochemical degradation, and methodologies for understanding and improving correlation and acceleration. Participants will learn through proven theoretical concepts and practical research examples from industries that take a leading-edge approach to assessing service life prediction of materials.