UV aging test chambers use fluorescent UV lamps as light sources, simulating the ultraviolet radiation and condensation found in natural sunlight to conduct accelerated weathering tests on materials and obtain weatherability results. They can simulate natural weather conditions such as UV radiation, rain, high temperature, high humidity, condensation, and darkness. By reproducing these conditions, they combine them into a single cycle and automatically execute the test cycle. The YNK/UV (UVA UVB) series uses fluorescent UV lamps that accurately simulate the UV spectrum of sunlight. Combined with temperature and humidity control, they simulate the UV damage that can cause discoloration, brightness and strength loss, cracking, flaking, chalking, and oxidation on materials. These UV lamps are widely used to evaluate the weatherability of materials. They provide excellent sunlight UV simulation, low maintenance costs, and ease of use. A programmable controller automatically runs the test cycle, resulting in high automation, excellent lighting stability, and highly reproducible test results. They are suitable for aging tests on a variety of products and materials, including those in the plastics, coatings, rubber, paints, petrochemical, automotive, and textile industries.
Chamber Structure
The UV weathering test chamber features multiple optimizations in design and functionality. First, its structure utilizes highly durable materials. The inner chamber is made of stainless steel for enhanced corrosion resistance. The outer chamber is constructed of A3 steel plate with a spray-coated plastic finish for both strength and aesthetics. The sample holder utilizes gaskets and a telescopic spring structure for stability. The chamber's components are constructed of aluminum alloy for lightweight construction. The water tray inside the chamber is also constructed of stainless steel. These features contribute to a longer service life. Regarding the core light source configuration, the chamber is equipped with eight fluorescent UV lamps (installed in two rows of four, with parallel spacing of 70mm between each row, each lamp boasting a power output of 40W and a length of 1200mm). This provides a uniform working area of 900 x 210mm. Market-leading UVA-340 and UVB-313 lamps are available to meet diverse testing requirements, allowing users to flexibly select based on material properties. During the test, the sample was fixed 50 mm from the nearest parallel surface of the lamp, with its back exposed to room-temperature cooling air. The temperature differential creates stable condensation conditions during the condensation phase. Natural air convection is channeled through the bottom channel to maintain environmental stability. The water vapor generation system utilizes a bottom water pan (water depth ≤ 25 mm) to generate steam. An automatic controller regulates the water level, and the pan requires regular cleaning to prevent scale accumulation. Temperature control is achieved using a sensor mounted on a 75 × 100 × 2.5 mm black aluminum plate (blackboard), located in the center of the exposure test area. The temperature range is 30–80°C (with a tolerance of ±1°C). The illumination and condensation phases are independently controlled, with the latter controlled by adjusting the heating water temperature. Finally, the equipment's operating environment must meet specific conditions: the test chamber temperature must be maintained between 15 and 35°C, the device must be 300 mm away from the wall, and interference from other heat sources and strong airflow must be avoided to ensure accurate measurements of illumination intensity and condensation results.
Accessory Functions
The UV weathering test chamber is designed with a pure water filtration device. Given the high water quality requirements of the test, the equipment uses this device to purify the water source. Its automatic water fill valve and manual water fill drawer are typically integrated into the bottom water supply tank. If a filtration system is installed, the automatic water fill valve must be connected to a pressurized water source. When the water level in the tank is low, the water inlet solenoid valve automatically opens, allowing filtered clean water to flow into the storage tank, ensuring stable and reliable water quality during the test. Furthermore, to ensure operational safety, the test chamber is equipped with an automatic light protection device. Photoelectric proximity switches are installed on the front and rear doors. If the door is accidentally opened, the UV light function is automatically turned off and resumed after the door is closed, effectively preventing injuries from UV leakage. In addition, to accurately monitor UV radiation intensity, the test chamber supports real-time measurement using a radiometer: currently common handheld radiometers use a design with a separate probe and display screen. When in use, you need to select the corresponding band and range according to the wavelength of the fluorescent tube, and place the probe in the measurement hole of the specimen rack to read the data; while the installed radiometer fixes the photosensitive probe in the chamber (at the same distance as the test piece from the lamp), and its measurement value can be directly displayed on the touch controller. Both methods can meet the radiation monitoring needs in different scenarios.
Three Environments Within the Chamber
The UV weathering test chamber's multifunctional testing system primarily involves simulating condensation environments. When many items are exposed to humidity outdoors for extended periods, the primary cause of moisture is condensation, not rain. Leveraging the chamber's condensation function, a bottom water tank generates heated steam, maintaining a high relative humidity of 99.99%. Because the specimens are secured to the side walls, a temperature differential between their surfaces and the hot, humid air creates a continuous condensation cycle that produces liquid water, accurately replicating the moisture absorption and corrosion process caused by condensation in natural environments. Meanwhile, UV radiation, a core function of the test chamber, is primarily used to assess a material's resistance to UV light. By selecting a variety of UV lamps (such as UVA-340 and UV-313), UV light of varying wavelengths and intensities can be simulated. Users must select the appropriate light source based on material properties and test standards to achieve accurate UV weathering simulation. In addition, the test chamber's rain test function further expands the application scenarios: when rain suddenly falls under sunlight, the thermal shock effect caused by the sudden change in material surface temperature and the physical/chemical corrosion caused by rain erosion can be reproduced through the equipment's water spray system; this dynamic environmental simulation helps to comprehensively test the weather resistance of materials under the dual effects of temperature changes and moisture erosion, thereby providing reliable data support for outdoor applications.
Precautions
After an extended period of inactivity, if the equipment is to be used again, carefully check the water source, power supply, and all components before restarting. If the water shortage protection fails to activate due to a lack of water in the water tank, this is normal; simply refill the tank with tap water and restart the equipment. Because UV radiation is highly harmful to personnel (especially the eyes), operators should minimize exposure to UV radiation (exposure time should be less than 1 minute) and wear protective goggles and protective covers. Furthermore, the equipment is strictly prohibited from testing flammable, explosive, toxic, or highly corrosive materials. As a precision instrument, the UV weathering test chamber requires annual calibration. During use, monitor the lamp life. If the lamp cannot achieve the set irradiation intensity at full power, it must be replaced promptly. When replacing the lamp, ensure that the equipment is powered off. Wipe the periphery of the lamp with a damp cloth before removal, ensuring that both ends of the lamp are balanced during removal.
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