- Author
- Chin, J. W. | Byrd, E. | Embree, E. J. | Martin, J. W.
- Title
- Integrating Sphere Sources for UV Exposure: A Novel Approach to the Artificial UV Weathering of Coatings, Plastics and Composites.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Book or Conf
- Service Life Prediction: Methodology and Metrologies. Proceedings. American Chemical Society Symposium Series 805. 2002, American Chemical Society, Martin, J. W.; Bauer, D. R., Editors, 144-160 p., 2002
- Keywords
- coatings | plastics | composite materials | ultraviolet radiation | uv chambers | integrating sphere | exposure
- 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, has 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.