Carbon Arc Weathering Tester uses a carbon arc lamp to generate intense ultraviolet and visible light radiation, simulating the aging process of surface materials or coatings in natural sunlight. It is particularly suitable for testing the light aging resistance of plastics, coatings, rubber, polymer materials, and electronic product casings. With increasing demands for environmental protection and product standardization, carbon arc lamp aging testing has become an indispensable component in material reliability evaluation.
SUGA developed the original sunlight aging test chamber decades ago. Today, SUGA's S80 sunlight aging test chamber continues its excellent reputation. This precision instrument exposes samples to continuous radiation for extended periods of time. Our unique discharge voltage (50V) and current (60A) control system achieves a stable spectral power distribution, resulting in excellent test reproducibility. This precision instrument is extremely reliable, easy to use, and complies with international standards. The S80 uses eight carbon arc rods, four each placed at the top and bottom of the test chamber, capable of approximately 78 hours of continuous exposure. It also features automated operation of light and light-and-spray cycles.
Materials affected by light, temperature, and humidity can experience performance degradation and shortened lifespans, such as fading, yellowing, discoloration, embrittlement, oxidation, pulverization, and cracking. These phenomena are inevitable in the daily use of materials. Because these changes are a long-term process, taking months or even years, carbon arc aging testers simulate natural light by passing an electric current through special carbon rods (the figure below shows the spectral energy distribution curve of a closed carbon arc lamp and natural light). The equipment adjusts the temperature and sprays water to simulate the temperature and humidity of the natural environment for accelerated testing. Artificially simulating the aging process can shorten the aging process, allowing manufacturers to efficiently and accurately obtain data and performance parameters related to material aging, guiding research and development and reasonably estimating product lifespans.
Working Principle
A carbon arc lamp consists of two high-purity carbon rods. A high-voltage discharge generates an arc, emitting intense light radiation across a broad spectral range, particularly concentrated in the ultraviolet (280nm-400nm) band, which significantly damages the chemical structure of materials. In practical applications, the current, voltage, and radiation intensity of the carbon arc lamp can be controlled to simulate the effects of long-term exposure to natural sunlight, thereby accelerating the aging process. The core steps are: first, the carbon rods are heated by arc discharge to generate simulated ultraviolet light; then, the sample is irradiated at a timed and quantitative rate to accelerate the photochemical reaction on the material surface; temperature and humidity are then combined to enhance the aging effect; and after the cycle, changes in material properties are analyzed using physical and chemical indicators. In 2023. several environmental and materials research institutions noted that the application of carbon arc lamp aging testing has significantly increased in sustainable material design, automotive parts, and consumer electronics, meeting increasingly stringent international regulatory standards.
Core Testing Items
A typical carbon arc lamp aging test utilizes a comprehensive and detailed evaluation system. It not only focuses on visually monitoring surface color change and gloss loss, but also deeply assesses the material's mechanical strength, physical properties, and chemical structure changes. The main testing items are diverse and include: For color change, a spectrophotometer is used to measure the ΔE value to accurately determine the degree of color change; for surface gloss, the gloss loss after aging is tested; for mechanical properties, changes in indicators such as tensile strength and elongation at break are monitored; for surface cracking and flaking, the degree of surface damage is assessed visually or microscopically; and for chemical composition changes, infrared spectroscopy or X-ray analysis is used to analyze chemical changes caused by aging. These testing items complement each other and comprehensively help companies predict product lifespan and applicable environmental ranges, thereby providing scientific improvement recommendations.
Typical Application Scenarios
Carbon arc lamp aging testing, with its excellent simulation capabilities and precise detection results, has been widely used in numerous industries, including electronics, automotive parts, building materials, textiles, and even food packaging. It plays an irreplaceable role in specific application scenarios across various industries. For electronic and electrical housings, such as smartphones and home appliance housings, color durability and UV resistance are crucial, and carbon arc lamp aging testing reliably meets this requirement. For automotive parts and coatings, plastic parts and coatings exposed to sunlight for extended periods must undergo lightfastness testing, and carbon arc lamp aging testing effectively assesses their performance. In the building materials sector, exterior wall coatings and sealants are subject to long-term UV exposure, and this test allows for a scientific assessment of their performance. In the textile and leather products industry, carbon arc lamp aging testing can be used to assess a material's lightfastness, ensuring a positive long-term product experience. For packaging materials, especially food and pharmaceutical packaging, ensuring the safety of non-degradable materials is crucial, and carbon arc lamp aging testing provides strong support for this. In practical applications, carbon arc lamp aging testing can effectively help companies reduce after-sales costs and reputation losses caused by rapid product degradation.
Development Trends
With the emergence of new materials and increasingly stringent environmental regulations, weathering testing technology is constantly evolving. Carbon arc lamp weathering testing is moving towards intelligent and precise testing. By integrating automated data collection, remote monitoring, and AI-assisted analysis, testing efficiency and predictive accuracy will be significantly improved in the future. The use of environmentally friendly and energy-saving carbon arc lamp light sources is also gradually reducing the environmental impact of the testing process.
In early 2024. an industry report indicated that hybrid weathering testing technology will become mainstream, combining UV lamps, xenon arc lamps, and environmental stress testing to comprehensively evaluate material properties, pushing global testing technology to new heights.
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Carbon arc weathering machines can effectively simulate natural outdoor sunlight and sunlight transmitted through window glass. Xenon arc lamps were first used in the plastics industry. Because their test results better simulate the actual weatherability of products, they are adopted by many international standards such as AATCC, ASTM, ISO, and government organizations. The textile industry, a traditional user of carbon arc lamps, has also changed its standards and adopted carbon arc weathering machines.
Carbon arc lamp weathering testing is currently the primary method for evaluating the light aging resistance of materials and products. It effectively simulates the UV radiation found in natural sunlight, helping companies predict the risk of product performance degradation. Shenzhen Xunke Standard Technology Service Co., Ltd.'s sales department, equipped with advanced equipment and a professional technical team, provides comprehensive carbon arc lamp weathering testing services. Incorporating multiple reliability testing projects, we offer solutions for clients in various fields, including electronics, automotive, construction, and textiles.
As materials science continues to advance and environmental protection requirements become increasingly stringent, carbon arc lamp aging testing, as a key means of evaluating material reliability, is playing an increasingly important role. From the precise control of its operating principles, to the comprehensive and detailed coverage of core testing items, to the wide coverage of typical application scenarios, and the future development trend of intelligent and precise testing, all demonstrate the strong vitality of this technology. Professional organizations like the Standard International Group (HK) Limited, with advanced equipment and professional technical teams, provide high-quality services to customers in various fields. This will undoubtedly help companies gain an advantage in the fierce market competition with reliable product quality, and drive the entire industry to flourish in a higher quality and more sustainable direction.
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