In recent Atlas Weathering Blog posts, the TOP 10
xenon-arc and
outdoor weathering testing standards were discussed.
Now, we are using a similar approach to identify the 10 most frequently used and referenced fluorescent UV (aka Fl/UV) testing standards. We are excluding industry and company test methods and focusing on international consensus-based documents, e.g. ISO, EN, and ASTM.
General Guidance
Both
ISO 4892-1 – Plastics - Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources - General guidance and
ASTM G151 - Standard Practice for Exposing Nonmetallic Materials in Accelerated Test Devices that Use Laboratory Light Sources provide general guidance for all laboratory light sources. These standards are already discussed in the post about TOP 10 xenon standards. The following is on fluorescent UV exposures exclusively.
1. ASTM G154 - Standard Practice for Operating Fluorescent Ultraviolet (UV) Lamp Apparatus for Exposure of Nonmetallic Materials.
This practice provides general guidance for operating fluorescent UV devices for a wide range of exposure conditions. ASTM G154 is technically equivalent to ISO 4892-3 for plastics and ISO 16474-3 for coatings. ASTM G154, along with ASTM G151 for general guidance, replace the previous instrument-specific standard ASTM G53.
Coatings
2. ISO 16474-3 - Paints and varnishes - Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources – Part 3: Fluorescent UV lamps.
Part 3 of the ISO 16474 series on paints and varnishes specifies testing with fluorescent UV devices, similar to Part 2, which focuses on xenon exposures.
3. ASTM D4587 - Standard Practice for Fluorescent UV-Condensation Exposures of Paint and Related Coatings.
ASTM D4587 includes a selection of test conditions for accelerated exposure testing for coatings and related products in fluorescent UV and condensation devices, conducted in accordance with ASTM practices G151 and G154.
4. EN 927-6 - Paints and varnishes - Coating materials and coating systems for exterior wood – Part 6: Exposure of wood coatings to artificial weathering using fluorescent UV lamps and water.
This European standard refers to ISO 16474-3, specifically focusing on coatings on wood. An additional part of series EN 927 on xenon exposure is in discussion but work has not yet started.
Diagram of a typical Fl/UV device
Plastics
5. ISO 4892-3 – Plastics - Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources - Part 3: Fluorescent UV lamps.
Part 3 of ISO 4892 series on laboratory weathering of plastics specifies fluorescent UV testing devices in a similar way as Part 2 does for xenon exposures. In addition to the widely used condensation type devices, climatic chamber type instruments are also described.
6. ASTM D4329 - Standard Practice for Fluorescent Ultraviolet (UV) Exposure of Plastics.
ASTM D4329 and ISO 4892-3 address the same subject matter but differ in technical content and instrument settings.
Bituminous Materials
7. ASTM D4799 - Standard Test Method for Accelerated Weathering Test Conditions and Procedures for Bituminous Materials (Fluorescent UV and Condensation Method).
8. EN 1297 - Flexible sheets for waterproofing - Bitumen, plastic, and rubber sheets for roofing - Method of artificial ageing by long term exposure to the combination of UV radiation, elevated temperature and water.
Both standards specify fluorescent UV and condensation exposure of materials used for roofing and waterproofing but in a slightly different way. ASTM D4799 refers to the basic ASTM G151 and G154 practices. EN 1297, however, refers to the basic standards ISO 4892-1 and ISO 4892-3.
Geotextiles
9. ASTM D7238 - Standard Test Method for Effect of Exposure of Unreinforced Polyolefin Geomembrane Using Fluorescent UV Condensation Apparatus.
It should be mentioned that there is a European standard for the same application.
EN 12224 - Geotextiles and geotextile-related products - Determination of the resistance to weathering specifies UV lamps for testing according to ISO 4892-3.
Coil Coated Metals
10. EN 13523-10 - Coil coated metals - Test methods – Part 10: Resistance to fluorescent UV light and water condensation.
This European standard relates to basic guidelines in ISO 16474-3. The EN 13523 series consists of 29 parts, with part 19 specifying outdoor weathering exposure and part 21 the evaluation of samples from outdoor tests.
More Information
Atlas offers several recorded seminars on standards-related topics, e.g. on
•
Material testing for automotive interior and exterior applications
•
Setup for common test methods
•
Xenon-arc and Fl/UV - comparison and applications
Learn more about Atlas
UVTest Fl/UV exposure device. For comprehensive information on weathering and lightfastness technology and applications, refer to our
online library.
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recorded online seminars or
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