ASTM International

Standard Test Method for Assessing the Current-Voltage Cycling Stability at Room Temperature of Absorptive Electrochromic Coatings on Sealed Insulating Glass Units
 N E2241

Annotation

The test described is a method for the accelerated aging and monitoring of the time-dependent performance of electrochromic windows (ECW). Cross sections of typical electrochromic windows have three to five-layers of coatings that include one to three active layers sandwiched between two transparent conducting electrodes (TCEs, see Section 3). Examples of the cross-sectional arrangements can be found in “Evaluation Criteria and Test Methods for Electrochromic Windows.”2 (For acronyms used in this standard, see Appendix X1, section X1.1).

The test method is applicable only for layered (one or more active coatings between the TCEs) absorptive electrochromic coatings on sealed insulating glass (IG) units fabricated for vision glass (superstrate and substrate) areas for use in buildings, such as glass doors, windows, skylights, and exterior wall systems. The layers used for electrochromically changing the optical properties may be inorganic or organic materials between the superstrate and substrate.

The electrochromic coatings used in this test method will be subsequently exposed (see Test Methods E 2141) to solar radiation and deployed to control the amount of radiation by absorption and reflection and thus, limit the solar heat gain and amount of solar radiation that is transmitted into the building.

The test method is not applicable to other chromogenic devices, for example, photochromic and thermochromic devices.

The test method is not applicable to electrochromic windows that are constructed from superstrate or substrate materials other than glass.

The test method referenced herein is a laboratory test conducted under specified conditions. This test is intended to simulate and, possibly, to also accelerate actual in-service use of the electrochromic windows. Results from this test cannot be used to predict the performance with time of in-service units unless actual corresponding in-service tests have been conducted and appropriate analyses have been conducted to show how performance can be predicted from the accelerated aging tests.