History of Weathering

It all started in 1906, when the first systematic outdoor weathering test was conducted in Dakota, USA. 10 years later, the “Solar Determinator” started the carbon-arc era. In 1956, the introduction of the Xenotest 150 was the beginning of xenon-arc weathering, still being today’s method of choice for most applications. For the last 115 years, outdoor testing technologies evolved from static racks to sun-tracking exposure, and finally to accelerated devices with mirrors concentrating the sun on a target board. The history of weathering is an exciting example of how various academic and technical disciplines bundle their efforts to drive technical progress in material science, technology, test method design, and service life prediction.

It all started in 1906, when the first systematic outdoor weathering test was conducted in Dakota, USA. 10 years later, the “Solar Determinator” started the carbon-arc era. In 1956, the introduction of the Xenotest 150 was the beginning of xenon-arc weathering, still being today’s method of choice for most applications. For the last 115 years, outdoor testing technologies evolved from static racks to sun-tracking exposure, and finally to accelerated devices with mirrors concentrating the sun on a target board. The history of weathering is an exciting example of how various academic and technical disciplines bundle their efforts to drive technical progress in material science, technology, test method design, and service life prediction.

History of Weathering

It all started in 1906, when the first systematic outdoor weathering test was conducted in Dakota, USA. 10 years later, the “Solar Determinator” started the carbon-arc era. In 1956, the introduction of the Xenotest 150 was the beginning of xenon-arc weathering, still being today’s method of choice for most applications. For the last 115 years, outdoor testing technologies evolved from static racks to sun-tracking exposure, and finally to accelerated devices with mirrors concentrating the sun on a target board. The history of weathering is an exciting example of how various academic and technical disciplines bundle their efforts to drive technical progress in material science, technology, test method design, and service life prediction.

It all started in 1906, when the first systematic outdoor weathering test was conducted in Dakota, USA. 10 years later, the “Solar Determinator” started the carbon-arc era. In 1956, the introduction of the Xenotest 150 was the beginning of xenon-arc weathering, still being today’s method of choice for most applications. For the last 115 years, outdoor testing technologies evolved from static racks to sun-tracking exposure, and finally to accelerated devices with mirrors concentrating the sun on a target board. The history of weathering is an exciting example of how various academic and technical disciplines bundle their efforts to drive technical progress in material science, technology, test method design, and service life prediction.

Fundamentals of Weathering: Factors of Weathering

This seminar addresses the influences of weather, especially solar radiation, temperature, and moisture on materials including how they are measured and how their impact can be estimated. (Part 1 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)

This seminar addresses the influences of weather, especially solar radiation, temperature, and moisture on materials including how they are measured and how their impact can be estimated. (Part 1 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)

Fundamentals of Weathering: Outdoor Weathering

This seminar addresses the fundamentals of natural weathering. This includes static exposures in different reference climate zones as well as various outdoor accelerated test methods. (Part 2 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)

This seminar addresses the fundamentals of natural weathering. This includes static exposures in different reference climate zones as well as various outdoor accelerated test methods. (Part 2 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)

Fundamentals of Weathering: Laboratory Weathering

This seminar addresses different kinds of laboratory weathering instruments, various lamp types and their spectral irradiance distribution. Similarities and differences between different instrument types are discussed. (Part 3 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)

This seminar addresses different kinds of laboratory weathering instruments, various lamp types and their spectral irradiance distribution. Similarities and differences between different instrument types are discussed. (Part 3 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)

Fundamentals of Weathering: Factors of Weathering

This seminar addresses the influences of weather, especially solar radiation, temperature, and moisture on materials including how they are measured and how their impact can be estimated. (Part 1 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)

This seminar addresses the influences of weather, especially solar radiation, temperature, and moisture on materials including how they are measured and how their impact can be estimated. (Part 1 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)

Fundamentals of Weathering: Outdoor Weathering

This seminar addresses the fundamentals of natural weathering. This includes static exposures in different reference climate zones as well as various outdoor accelerated test methods. (Part 2 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)

This seminar addresses the fundamentals of natural weathering. This includes static exposures in different reference climate zones as well as various outdoor accelerated test methods. (Part 2 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)

Fundamentals of Weathering: Laboratory Weathering

This seminar addresses different kinds of laboratory weathering instruments, various lamp types and their spectral irradiance distribution. Similarities and differences between different instrument types are discussed. (Part 3 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)

This seminar addresses different kinds of laboratory weathering instruments, various lamp types and their spectral irradiance distribution. Similarities and differences between different instrument types are discussed. (Part 3 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)

Fundamentals of Weathering: Weathering Testing and Basic Standards

This seminar addresses how environmental stress factors are translated into artificial weathering test cycles. Examples are given on the most common test methods for automotive, textiles, coatings, and other applications. Guidance is given on what should be considered and what should be avoided when developing significant weathering test methods. (Part 4 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)

This seminar addresses how environmental stress factors are translated into artificial weathering test cycles. Examples are given on the most common test methods for automotive, textiles, coatings, and other applications. Guidance is given on what should be considered and what should be avoided when developing significant weathering test methods. (Part 4 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)

Fundamentals of Weathering: Weathering Testing and Basic Standards

This seminar addresses how environmental stress factors are translated into artificial weathering test cycles. Examples are given on the most common test methods for automotive, textiles, coatings, and other applications. Guidance is given on what should be considered and what should be avoided when developing significant weathering test methods. (Part 4 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)

This seminar addresses how environmental stress factors are translated into artificial weathering test cycles. Examples are given on the most common test methods for automotive, textiles, coatings, and other applications. Guidance is given on what should be considered and what should be avoided when developing significant weathering test methods. (Part 4 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)

Fundamentals of Weathering: Weathering Testing - Acceleration

This seminar addresses the principles on how acceleration can be achieved in weathering testing. Technical solutions are described. What should be considered to get reliable and significant results from accelerated testing? How can reciprocity be validated? This seminar will give some answers. It will be explained how acceleration models can be used for service life prediction. (Part 5 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)

This seminar addresses the principles on how acceleration can be achieved in weathering testing. Technical solutions are described. What should be considered to get reliable and significant results from accelerated testing? How can reciprocity be validated? This seminar will give some answers. It will be explained how acceleration models can be used for service life prediction. (Part 5 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)

Fundamentals of Weathering: Weathering Testing - Acceleration

This seminar addresses the principles on how acceleration can be achieved in weathering testing. Technical solutions are described. What should be considered to get reliable and significant results from accelerated testing? How can reciprocity be validated? This seminar will give some answers. It will be explained how acceleration models can be used for service life prediction. (Part 5 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)

This seminar addresses the principles on how acceleration can be achieved in weathering testing. Technical solutions are described. What should be considered to get reliable and significant results from accelerated testing? How can reciprocity be validated? This seminar will give some answers. It will be explained how acceleration models can be used for service life prediction. (Part 5 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)

Fundamentals of Weathering: Weathering Testing - Correlation

To evaluate and to understand accelerated weathering testing, it is important to know how the results “correlate” to real world weathering. In this seminar mathematical/statistical procedures are described on how to compare and how to validate weathering results from different exposures. Basic principles on how to increase correlation are discussed. It will be explained why good correlation is important for service life prediction. (Part 6 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)

To evaluate and to understand accelerated weathering testing, it is important to know how the results “correlate” to real world weathering. In this seminar mathematical/statistical procedures are described on how to compare and how to validate weathering results from different exposures. Basic principles on how to increase correlation are discussed. It will be explained why good correlation is important for service life prediction. (Part 6 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)

Fundamentals of Weathering: Weathering Testing - Correlation

To evaluate and to understand accelerated weathering testing, it is important to know how the results “correlate” to real world weathering. In this seminar mathematical/statistical procedures are described on how to compare and how to validate weathering results from different exposures. Basic principles on how to increase correlation are discussed. It will be explained why good correlation is important for service life prediction. (Part 6 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)

To evaluate and to understand accelerated weathering testing, it is important to know how the results “correlate” to real world weathering. In this seminar mathematical/statistical procedures are described on how to compare and how to validate weathering results from different exposures. Basic principles on how to increase correlation are discussed. It will be explained why good correlation is important for service life prediction. (Part 6 of our six part series of general weathering related online seminars)