ITEM 33E

UV BOX simulates the effects of sunlight with ultraviolet rays using UV fluorescent lamps and also reproduces dew and rain using moisture condensation and water spray.
The accelerated UV aging test reproduces the damage caused by sunlight, rain and dew. In a few days or weeks of exposure of the samples inside the UV BOX, damages occurring in months or years of outdoor exposure can be reproduced.
To simulate aging due to external atmospheric agents, UV BOX subjects the materials to alternating cycles of UV radiation and humidity at controlled high temperatures.
The instrument simulates the effects of sunlight through the use of special UV fluorescent lamps and the simulation of the effect of dew and rain occurs through condensation or a spray of water (Spray option).
UV radiation is responsible for almost all the processes of photo degradation of durable materials exposed to the external environment.
The fluorescent lamps used in the UV BOX simulate critical UV short waves and realistically reproduce the damage caused by sunlight.
The types of damage that can be simulated with the UV BOX are the following: color change, loss of gloss, chalking, cracking, cracks, blistering, veiling, brittleness, loss of strength and oxidation.
Dew is mainly responsible for most of the moisture that occurs during outdoor exposure, much more than rain. The condensation system of the UV BOX realisticallysimulates dew and amplifies its effect through the use of high temperatures.
The condensation process automaticallypurifies the network water used in the system.
This is because the process of evaporationand condensation of water on samples is actually a distillation process, which allows to remove all impurities.
UV BOX can accommodate up to 48 standard samples (75mm x 150mm) and it is possible to create special sample holder according to customer specifications.

STANDARDS: ASTM D4329, D4587, D4799, D5208, D6662, G53, G154, G151 ISO 4892-3, 11507, 11895, 11997-2, 16474-3 EN 927-6, 1297, 12224, 13523-10, 1898, pr 1062-4 SAE J2020 – AATCC TM186

UV LAMPS
UV fluorescent lamps are more stable than other types of lamps, including xenon arclamps.
The spectral distribution(SPD) is not changed with the aging of the lamp, even after thousands of hours of operation, and this feature involves in more reproducibleresults, less frequent lamp replacements and a reduction in operating costs.
– Lamps UVA-340: UVA-340 lamps offer the best simulation of sunlight in the critical wavelength region from 365 nm up to the solar cut-off value of 295 nm.
– Lamps UVB-313: UVB-313 lamps maximize acceleration through the use of the most aggressive UV short waves compared to those normally arrivingon the earth’s surface. As a result, for some materials these lamps can produce too severe and unrealistic results.