ASTM International

Standard Practice for Operating Fluorescent Ultraviolet (UV) Lamp Apparatus for Exposure of Nonmetallic Materials
 N G154

Annotation

This practice is limited to the basic principles for operating a fluorescent UV lamp and water apparatus; on its own, it does not deliver a specific result.

It is intended to be used in conjunction with a practice or method that defines specific exposure conditions for an application along with a means to evaluate changes in material properties. This practice is intended to reproduce the weathering effects that occur when materials are exposed to sunlight (either direct or through window glass) and moisture as rain or dew in actual usage. This practice is limited to the procedures for obtaining, measuring, and controlling conditions of exposure.

NOTE 1—Practice G151 describes general procedures to be used when exposing nonmetallic materials in accelerated test devices that use laboratory light sources.

NOTE 2—A number of exposure procedures are listed in an appendix; however, this practice does not specify the exposure conditions best suited for the material to be tested.

Test specimens are exposed to fluorescent UV light under controlled environmental conditions. Different types of fluorescent UV lamp sources are described.

NOTE 3—In this standard, the terms UV light and UV radiation are used interchangeably.

Specimen preparation and evaluation of the results are covered in ASTM methods or specifications for specific materials. General guidance is given in Practice G151 and ISO 4892-1.

NOTE 4—General information about methods for determining the change in properties after exposure and reporting these results is described in ISO 4582 and Practice D5870.