UV Transmission

Solar Light is a global leader in light testing services offering accelerated UV testing, spectral transmittance analysis, and spectral scanning of light sources for over 40 years. Our NIST Traceable testing laboratory provides testing services meeting ASTM & ISO standards.

Testing Services

ACCELERATED UV Testing of Materials for Indoor & Outdoor Exposure
UV TRANSMISSION of Materials affected by Accelerated UV Exposure
SPECTRAL IRRADIANCE of Light Sources
List of Testing Applications

UV Testing Laboratory

Have your samples exposed to UV, or full spectrum sunlight to simulate years worth of sunlight in days. At Solar Light, we can expose plastics, paints, coatings, textiles, papers, and other materials to UV light to test how they will stand up to years of UV light. Using only Solar Light solar simulators we can expose your samples to the spectrum of natural sunlight with a class "A" spectrum and 5% uniformity, providing the closest spectral output of sunlight that can be simulated by a light source. The accelerated life testing will show how a material will react to long term sunlight exposure.

UV Testing on Paint Paints & Coatings: We can expose your paints and coatings for color fastness testing and accelerated life testing to long term UV exposure. Find out if the paint you are using or manufacturing will withstand years worth of UV weathering. All testing of paints and coatings follow ASTM standard G155.

UV Testing on Textile Textiles: Test your different textiles for color fastness and degradation to long term UV exposure. Many textiles will fade rapidly under sunlight. Performing an environmental test will show how much your textiles are fading or degrading and allow you to determine if you need to use another textile or add more UV inhibitor to your dyes.

Plastics: Test plastics, vinyl's, polyethylene and other synthetic type materials for degradation and color fastness. Our plastics testing equipment follows ASTM standards G155, D2565, D4459 and more. Have your plastics put through an environmental weathering test and view the level of degradation of many years of sunlight in only a few days.

UV Testing on Photostability Photostability: After chemicals have been exposed to sunlight or other light sources their chemical structure begins to change and their effectiveness decreases. By exposing chemicals to UVA or UVA+UVB we can test pharmaceuticals and other chemicals for their shelf-life. What would normally take many months of uv exposure in a chamber we can achieve in days with NIST traceable accuracy.

UV Testing on Wood Pulp Products Paper products: Many packages and labels fade after a short period of being exposed to light this is because of a lack of UV inhibitor used in the ink. We can perform fade resistance tests that will show whether or not your material will fade and how long it will take. Accelerated color fastness testing can be performed on any wood pulp product like paper labels, card board packaging, wall paper, and other items.

Accelerated UV Testing Chart: Temperate Zone (Mid latitude)

> Spot size vs. Time to test

	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years	15 years
2 cm	4.3 days	13 days	22 days	43 days	65 days
3 cm	10 days	31 days	52 days	104 days	156 days
5.7 cm	33 days	98 days	164 days	327 days	N/A

Accelerated UV Testing Chart: Tropical Zone

> Spot size vs. Time to test

	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years	15 years
2 cm	5.3 days	16 days	27 days	53 days	80 days
3 cm	11 days	34 days	56 days	113 days	169 days
5.7 cm	35 days	106 days	177 days	354 days	N/A

Spectral Measurement Services

Solar Light can provide spectral analysis of detectors, light sources, and the transmissivity and reflectivity of materials. Using advanced spectroradiometers, monochromators, NIST traceable standard lamps, and NIST Traceable standard detectors, Solar Light provides absolute spectroradiometric analyses.

Services Include:

Spectral light transmission characteristics of a material
The spectral response of a detector
The spectral output of a light source

Test and Measurement Standards

including, but are not limited to:

* ASTM G155-07 “Standard Practice for Operation of Xenon Arc Apparatus for Exposure of Non-Metallic Materials.”

* ASTM D 2565 “../ Xenon Arc Exposure of Plastics Intended for Outdoor Use”

* ASTM D4329-05 “../ Fluorescent UV Exposure of Plastics”

* ASTM D4674 “../ accelerated Testing for Color Stability of Plastics Exposed to Indoor Fluorescent Lighting and Window Filtered Daylight”

* ASTM D5071-06 “../ Exposure of Photodegradable Plastics in a Xenon Arc Apparatus”

* ASTM D5208-09 “../ Fluorescent Ultraviolet (UV) Exposure of Photodegradable Plastics”

* ASTM E1347 “../Color Analysis

* ASTM Method E313 ”Standard Practice for Calculating Yellowing Index”

* ISO 4892 “UV Exposure: Plastics - Methods of Exposure To Laboratory Light Sources”

* ISO 11341 “Paints and varnishes - Artificial weathering and exposure to artificial radiation - exposure to “filtered xenon-arc radiation”

Test and Measurement Equipment

Solar Light Co. Model 16S-300 Short Arc Xenon UV Solar Simulators;

Filters UG11 and WG 320.

Solar Light Co. Model PMA2100 dual channel datalogging radiometer

Solar Light Co. Model PMA2103 UVA+B detector

Stability Environments Controlled Temperature, Humidity & Light Walk-in Chamber

Stability Environments 33 cu ft Controlled Temperature & Humidity Reach-in Chamber

Hunter Lab Model CQXE

Optronic Laboratories Model 740 A/D Monochromator

Optronic Laboratories Model 730A Radiometer

Optronic Laboratories Model 740-1C Controller

Optronic Laboratories Model OL 220M Quartz-halogen lamp

Optronic Laboratories Model 65DS Precision Current Source

Procedure to send Materials and Equipment to Solar Light for testing:

1. Complete the “Materials Testing Form” and mark box "Attn: Materials Testing Laboratory".

2. Issue a purchase order or include payment information.

3. Provide specific shipping instructions for the return shipment and fax or e-mail P.O. / Return Form to Solar Light Company and

4. Enclosed a copy of the "Materials Testing Form" in the package with the instrument along with price quotation.

Ship prepaid via UPS or FedEx, fully insured to:

Solar Light Company, Inc.
100 East Glenside Avenue
Glenside, PA. 19038 USA
Tel: 215 517-8700
Fax: 215 517-8747
E-mail: info@solarlight.com

Send to: Attn: Materials Testing Laboratory

Notes:

1. If the customer is from outside the United States, mark shipping documents/commercial invoice with:
“U.S.A. Goods being returned to the manufacturer for repair and re-shipment back to us.”

2. Solar Light will inspect the instruments upon received and will advise and obtain approval of testing before proceeding with the work.

3. Solar Light standard payment terms are: Payment in Advance (before shipment) either by major Credit Card with 1.5% surcharge or via bank wire transfer

> Please contact us to receive wire transfer information.