- Author
-
Chin, J. W.
|
Martin, J. W.
|
Embree, E. J.
|
Byrd, W. E.
- Title
- Use of Integrating Spheres as Uniform Sources for Accelerated UV Weathering of Advanced Materials.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Book or Conf
- Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering (PMSE) Fall Meeting. Volume 83. Proceedings. American Chemical Society (ACS) Division of Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering. August 20-24, 2000,
American Chemical Society, Washington, DC,
Washington, DC,
145-146 p.,
2000
- Keywords
-
integrating sphere
|
ultraviolet radiation
|
photodegradation
|
polymers
- Abstract
- The primary method for obtaining laboratory weathering data for a wide range of commercial polymer products including coatings, textiles, elastomers, plastics and polymeric composites is through the use of ultraviolet radiation exposure chambers (UV chambers). Although numerous improvements have been made in the design of UV chambers over the last 80 years, the repeatability and reproducibility of the exposure results from these chambers have remained elusive. This lack of reproducibility and repeatability is attributed to systematic errors in their design, operation, and control which, in turn, have prevented comparisons of the performance of materials exposed in the same environment, comparisons of the performance of the same material exposed in different laboratories, and the comparison of field and laboratory results. This paper describes an innovative UV chamber design having a basis in integrating sphere technology that greatly reduces the magnitude of these errors, as well as provides additional experimental capabilities.