The Applied Technical Services Family of Companies (ATS FoC) is a leader among xenon arc testing labs, providing services that evaluate how products and materials respond to long-term exposure to sunlight, precipitation, and humidity. When designing a product, manufacturers must consider how natural weather cycles will inevitably impact the product’s appearance and performance. While weather exposure often slowly causes material degradation, xenon weathering technology enables us to conduct accelerated weather tests that can simulate years of weather in days or weeks.
What is Xenon Weathering Testing?
Xenon arc weathering tests use specialized chambers to determine a material’s ability to withstand the harmful effects of exposure to sunlight (ultraviolet radiation), heat, and moisture. The ability to accurately simulate various weather cycles and conditions is critical for manufacturers, as it allows them to gain important insight into their product’s long-term performance in specific environments.
Technicians conduct xenon weather tests using a Weather-Ometer, an instrument that utilizes xenon bulbs, temperature controls, and a humidity and moisture regulator to simulate natural weather conditions. During the testing process, technicians place samples inside the testing chamber before exposing them to varying cycles of moisture, water, heat, and sunlight. These controlled conditions allow technicians to observe the performance of materials and coatings, documenting their findings. The duration and specific conditions of these tests can vary greatly depending on the sample’s intended use, but they often range from several hundred to upwards of 1,000 hours of testing.
About Our Xenon Arc Testing Labs
Our environmental testing lab offers xenon arc testing services for clients seeking to learn more about how their products respond to a range of weather conditions. Whether we’re testing metals, plastics, fabrics, or coatings, our environmental testing team is equipped with the expertise and equipment needed to accurately simulate the conditions your products and materials will experience. We offer customizable Xenon Arc tests, while also offering testing services that comply with many standards, including but not limited to the following:
- ASTM D4459
- ASTM D6695
- ASTM D7869
- ASTM G155
- SAE J2412
- SAE J2527
Contact Us
For additional information about our environmental testing lab and its various xenon arc testing capabilities, call +1 (888) 287-5227 or submit a request form.
