Accelerated Outdoor

Weathering Testing
Principles and Case Studies
Andy Francis
Mike Crewdson
Ron Roberts
Sean Fowler
Dave Duecker
Bill Tobin

1 | Accelerated Outdoor Weathering Testing

 Q-Lab’s Outdoor Testing Series
• This is the second of a two-part
webinar series on outdoor Date Topic
weathering test exposures
15 Feb Natural Outdoor Weathering
• Last week we presented a
brand-new version of natural 22 Feb Accelerated Outdoor Weathering
outdoor weathering testing
• All upcoming and archived
webinars can be accessed at:
q-lab.com/webinars

2 | Accelerated Outdoor Weathering Testing

 Administrative Notes

You’ll receive a follow-up email from

[email protected] with links to a
survey, registration for future webinars,
and to download the slides

Use the Q&A feature in Zoom to ask

us questions today!

3 | Accelerated Outdoor Weathering Testing

 Big Announcement!
• Q-Lab has acquired Arizona Desert
Testing, LLC (AZTest)

• Our combined enterprise is now called

Q-Lab Arizona Desert Testing and is
located at the AZTest site in Wittman, AZ

• Contact us for Arizona natural and

accelerated outdoor testing!

4 | Accelerated Outdoor Weathering Testing

 What is Accelerated Outdoor Weathering?

… outdoor weathering using the sun as the source of

irradiance, and where the rate of deterioration is
accelerated by increasing one or more of the influencing
parameters above a level obtained in the natural
environment.

From ASTM G113 “Standard Terminology Relating to Natural and Artificial Weathering Tests of Nonmetallic Materials

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 Why Accelerated Outdoor vs. Laboratory?
Real world Outdoor allows for Excellent balance
conditions testing of larger between speed and
are more complex specimens realism

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 Common forms of Acceleration in Outdoor Testing

• Increased Irradiance
– Solar concentration and/or
tracking the sun

• Modified Temperature
– Trapping/Adding Heat or
Freezing periods

• Increased Moisture
– Supplementary water spray

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 Interior Materials Testing
AIM Box
TRUE-AIM Box

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 Automotive Interior Materials (AIM )Boxes

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 Outdoor Tests for Interior Components

Speedometer
Bezels

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 Automotive Interior Materials
AIM Box
• Reproduces extreme heat from
automotive interior

• Can test entire instrument panel

• Different plastics experience

different thermal expansion

• Generates differential stresses

between different interior plastics

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 AIM Box Configurations

• Location: Arizona or Florida

• Movement: Static 45°S or Tracking 51°S

• Glass: Tempered clear or laminated safety

• Temperatures: Range of 85 to 110 °C Black Panel

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 TRUE-AIM Box
• TRUE (Tracking Reflecting Ultra
Exposure) AIM box increases total
solar radiation exposure
• Highly reflective mirrors and dual-axis
tracking (azimuth and elevation) to
focus more sunlight into the box
interior.
• Glass types and temperature limits are
same as regular AIM Box
• Approximately doubles total sunlight
received by specimens

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 Natural Sunlight Concentrators
Fresnel Concentrator
Solar Concentrator
Q-TRAC

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15 | Accelerated Outdoor Weathering Testing
 Sunlight Concentrating Mirrors

Test specimens

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 Mirrors Reflect Sunlight onto Specimens

Mirrors on average reflect 80% of solar UV radiation

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 Tracking the Sun

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 Arizona Only
• Clear skies are required for tracking and
concentration to work correctly

• Much lower efficiency when light is

diffuse (cloud cover)

• Needs high ambient temperatures in

winter

• Doesn’t work in inclement weather!

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 Summer Sunlight vs. Q-TRAC
~8× UV Irradiance of Natural
12

10
Q-TRAC
8 UV light
Irradiance 6
(W/m²/nm)
4
Summer
Sunlight
2

0
250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800
Wavelength (nm)

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 Radiant Exposure

×
The accumulated light energy received on a surface over a
period of time, per unit area [usually MJ/m2]

Q-TRAC tests are timed in radiant exposure, so tests finish

quicker during summer months

22 | Accelerated Outdoor Weathering Testing

 Q-TRAC Tests Are Usually Timed by
Accumulated Radiant Dosage
1 Year Florida Energy • A Florida year is
Exposure Angle
(MJ/m2 TUV) commonly defined as
0˚ South 322 280 MJ/m2
5˚ South 339 • Q-TRAC standards deliver
25˚ South 345 ~1400 MJ/m2 annually
45˚ South 320 • This is therefore ~5× a
90˚ South 170 typical year in Florida

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 True or False?

5× the sunlight
means
5× the degradation

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 Q-TRAC Acceleration

• Receives ~5 times more UV dosage

• Therefore ~5 years Florida sunlight in 1 year

• However: Light intensity is only one stressor

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 Outdoor accelerated testing
Temperature Effects

High temperatures come

from both ambient desert
conditions and from
concentrated sunlight

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 Q-TRAC Applications
Best for durable, high-temperature materials
• Coil Coatings
• Powder Coatings
• Roofing
• Building Materials
• Automotive Paints and Parts
• Some Plastics

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 Q-TRAC Target Board

Cooling Air

Specimens

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 Q-TRAC Specimen Mounting
Air
• Flat Specimens deflector Air flow
Specimen
– Backed or unbacked

• Length < 14 cm (5.5 in)

– Maximum to fit on target board

• Width
– Tests are charged by length Air duct
along target board

• Thickness < 2.5 cm (1 in)

– All specimens should be similar thickness

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 Temperature Effect of Mounting

Open / Plywood Natural Sunlight Concentrator

Black Box
Mesh Backed
Conventional Temp controlled

Black Panel (˚C) 50 70 80 100 70

White Panel (˚C) 40 50 60 80 50

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 Q-TRAC Specimen Cooling
Typical temperature is 20-30˚ C
above conventional backed exposures

Cooling
Blower

Air flows diagonally across specimens

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 Water Spray

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 Outdoor accelerated testing
Daytime water delivery

• Daytime spray dries quickly,

causes thermal shock

• Coatings do not absorb

any water!

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 Outdoor accelerated testing
Night-time water delivery
ASTM Daytime Nighttime
G90 Spray Dry Spray Dry
Cycle Cycles Cycles
duration duration duration duration

3 per night:
1 8 min 52 min 1 / hr 8 min
21:00, 00:00, 03:00

4 per hour
3 none 3 min 12 min (40 total)
19:00-05:00

• Frequent night-time spray cycles = high Time of Wetness

• Increased water presence = more realistic test
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 Natural Sunlight Concentrator Cycles
Cycle Application Day Night

Desert Inks, Textiles, Building Materials Sunlight only Ambient

Plastics, Coatings, Sealants, Building • Sunlight 8 min Water Spray,

Spray (Day/Night)
Materials, Wood Sealers • Water Spray 8 min/hr 3 times a night

3 min Water Spray every 15

Plastics, Coatings, Sealants, Building
Spray (Night) Sunlight only min inverted position
Materials, Roofing
(Wet like Florida)

Extremely Durable Factory Coated • Sunlight Water Bath Soak 1 hour

Soak/Freeze
Hardboard, Roofing • Water Spray 8 min/hr Overnight in Freezer -18 °C

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 Q-TRAC Test Results
Correlation to natural outdoor product ranking & differentiation

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 Q-TRAC / Direct Exposure Correlation
Direct Exposure Q-TRAC Exposure

90 days 29 days

unexposed unexposed

365 days 42 days

unexposed unexposed

37 | Accelerated Outdoor Weathering Testing

 Q-TRAC / Direct Exposure Correlation
Direct Exposure Q-TRAC Exposure

90 days 29 days

unexposed
unexposed unexposed

365 days 42 days

unexposed
unexposed unexposed

38 | Accelerated Outdoor Weathering Testing

 Q-TRAC / Direct Exposure Correlation
Direct Exposure Q-TRAC Exposure

90 days 29 days

unexposed unexposed

365 days 42 days

unexposed unexposed

39 | Accelerated Outdoor Weathering Testing

 Q-TRAC / Direct Exposure Correlation
Direct Exposure Q-TRAC Exposure

90 days 29 days

unexposed unexposed

365 days 42 days

unexposed unexposed

40 | Accelerated Outdoor Weathering Testing

 Paint Performance Differentiation
Direct Exposure: 90 Days Q-TRAC Exposure: 29 Days

Lower
performance
unexposed unexposed

Higher
performance

unexposed unexposed

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 Paint Performance Differentiation
Direct Exposure: 90 Days Q-TRAC Exposure: 29 Days
Black paint A

Lower
performance
unexposed unexposed

Black paint B

Higher
performance

unexposed unexposed

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 Direct Q-TRAC
365 days 42 days
Right unexposed Center unexposed

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 Q-TRAC Freeze/Thaw Cycle Correlation
Direct Outdoor Q-TRAC Freeze/Thaw
365 Days 42 Days

Wood A

Wood B

44 | Accelerated Outdoor Weathering Testing

 Q-TRAC Natural Sunlight Concentrator
• Fast, Accurate Results

• Full-spectrum natural
sunlight

• High temperature
(temp limiting available)

• Multiple water spray cycles

available

• Nighttime Freezing option

45 | Accelerated Outdoor Weathering Testing

 Thank you for your time.

Questions?
[email protected]

46 | Accelerated Outdoor Weathering Testing