Crystal Instruments Accelerated Weathering Testing Service

Products intended for outdoor use face a difficult combination of intense sunlight and excess moisture from rain or snow, and their function degrades over time. Accelerated weathering testing concentrates ultraviolet radiation, extreme temperature, varying humidity and even corrosive media onto a specimen, reproducing in a short time the aging that would otherwise require years of outdoor exposure, so engineers can judge weathering life during development.

Two families of test are used: accelerated outdoor weathering and laboratory accelerated weathering. An accelerated outdoor system is placed outside and uses a solar concentration system of motorized mirrors that continuously track and reflect sunlight onto the specimen board, while the sample also sees natural wind and water. Laboratory accelerated weathering instead exposes products inside closed chambers under precise control of the exposure factors, sharply accelerating the aging process. Many manufacturers combine laboratory testing with natural outdoor exposure to cover a wider range of conditions.

Once material arrives at the CI lab, engineers place the test unit on a tray inside the weathering chamber. Several UV lamps reproduce the damaging UV portion of sunlight, while spray systems simulate the moisture of rain, snow and dew; the exposure regime can be customized to meet different industry standards. Specimens are routinely removed during the test to establish durability, and after testing engineers analyze dozens of potential failure modes: fading and color change, yellowing of polymers, decreased flame resistance, chalking, cracking and peeling, loss of strength, warping and blistering, decay and loss of functionality.

Customers receive recorded test results together with support from trained engineers, helping eliminate weaknesses in future design iterations. The service is ASTM-, ISO-, DIN- and SAE-compliant and can be requested at a CI testing lab.