Accelerated Exposure to Sunlight

The Atlas Type FDA-IR Fadeometer is used primarily to check and compare color stability. Besides determining the stability of various pigments needed to provide both standard and custom colors, the Fadeometer is helpful in preliminary studies of various stabilizers, dyes, and pigments compounded in plastics to prolong their useful life. 

It is primarily for testing materials to be used in products subject to indoor exposure and to sunlight. Exposure in the Fadeometer cannot be related directly to exposure in direct sunlight, partially because other weather factors are always present outdoors. 

As reviewed it is important that test specimens or products be properly prepared based on available specifications and/or standards that provide controlled conditioning procedures when conducting weathering as well as all other tests. The following is one example. There are other conditions set forth to provide for testing at higher or lower levels of temperature and humidity. 

Procedure for conditioning test specimens can call for the following periods in a standard laboratory atmosphere [50 2% relative humidity, 73.4 1.8°F (23 1°C) Adequate air circulation around all specimens must be provided. The reason for this test is due to the fact the temperature and moisture content of plastics affects different properties such as the physical and electrical properties. In order to get comparable test results at different times and in different laboratories a standard has been established. 

---

Accelerated exposure to sunlight Fadeometer Complete protection... 

---