Services

Solar Light Company, LLC is a global leader in light testing services, offering a myriad of standard and customized testing services with over 40 years of accumulated experience and knowledge. Our NIST-Traceable testing laboratory provides these services meeting ASTM, ISO and other universally accepted standards.

Testing Services Include:

  • Accelerated UV Testing
  • UPF Testing
  • Spectral Irradiance Measurements
  • Spectral Response Testing
  • UV, VIS, and IR Spectral Transmission Studies
  • Visible Light Reflectance Test
  • NIST Calibrations for light sources and measurement devices (including Solar Light brand and other brands)

Instructional Videos:

601 Multiport®

UV Testing Laboratory

Solar Light Company, LLC provides Accelerated UV Testing services for outdoor exposure of plastics (including vinyls, PE, ABS, acrylics, polycarbonates, PET, HIPS, and other synthetic materials,) paints, coatings, textiles, inks, dyes, papers (including cardboards and wallpapers,) and any other materials which are subject to degradation outside. Our state of the art laboratory uses either xenon arc sources or fluorescent sources of several types, depending on the customer’s unique requirements. In most cases, we can expose samples to a year’s worth of sunlight in in a week or two, objectively determining how a material reacts to long term sunlight.

Testing is performed to international standards such as ASTM G155, D2565, and D4459 in order to determine color fastness. This is extremely valuable for manufacturers who want to determine optimal performance during warranty periods, expected lifecycle of products, and the proper levels of UV inhibitors to include in their manufacturing processes.

A full suite of data analyses is available, including photography services, colorimetry measurements, and gloss readings. We can also include a Certification Report optionally which details the specific measurements of your samples, as well as equipment used in the testing, and all relevant data points.

We have decades of experience in such testing, and are the first choice for the most demanding clients in Aerospace, Automotive, Medical, Fashion, Furniture, and dozens of other industries worldwide.

Paints & Coatings:

We can expose your paints and coatings for color fastness testing and accelerated life testing to long term UV exposure. Find out if the paint you are using or manufacturing will withstand years worth of UV weathering. Testing of paints and coatings follows ASTM standard G155 or other standards.

Textiles:

Test your textiles for color fastness and degradation to long term UV exposure. Many textiles will fade rapidly under sunlight. An accelerated test will show how much your textiles are fading or degrading and allow you to determine if you need to use another textile or add more UV inhibitor.

Plastics:

We can test your plastics, vinyl, PE, ABS, acrylics, Polycarbonate, PET, HIPS, and other synthetic materials for degradation and color fastness. Our test strategies follow ASTM standards G155, D2565, D4459 and more. Have your plastics put through an environmental weathering test and view the level of degradation. Test results can be seen in a matter of days. Refer to test chart for acceleration rates.

Paper products:

Many packages and labels fade after a short period of being exposed to light, which may be due to a lack of UV inhibitor used in the ink. We can perform fade resistance tests that will show whether or not your material will fade and how long it will take. Accelerated color fastness testing can be performed on any wood pulp product like paper labels, card board packaging, wall paper, and other items.

Accelerated Indoor Fluorescent UV testing:

Test the effects of fluorescent light sources on paints, wall coverings, coatings, fabrics such as carpets, curtains, furniture and so many more substances in our laboratory.

Indoor UV Exposure Testing:

Test the effects of indoor UV exposure on items such as medical packaging and disposables using our state of the art laboratory equipment, which is capable of meeting all typical exposure needs.

Accelerated Weathering (Performed Indoors):

Test the effects of outdoor temperature, humidity, moisture, and range of UV and light exposure on items such as medical packaging and disposables using our state of the art laboratory equipment, which is capable of meeting all typical weathering needs.

Accelerated UV Testing Chart: Temperate Zone (Mid latitude)

> Spot size vs. Time to test

1 year
3 years
5 years
7 years
10 years
15 years
2 cm
4.8 days
14.3 days
23.8 days
33.3 days
47.6 days
71.3 days
3 cm
11 days
32 days
54 days
75 days
107 days
161 days

Accelerated UV Testing Chart: Sub-Tropical Zone

> Spot size vs. Time to test

1 year
3 years
5 years
7 years
10 years
15 years
2 cm
5.4 days
16 days
27 days
38 days
54 days
81.6 days
3 cm
12 days
37 days
61 days
86 days
122 days
184 days

Accelerated UV Testing Chart: Tropical Zone

> Spot size vs. Time to test

1 year
3 years
5 years
7 years
10 years
15 years
2 cm
7.2 days
22 days
36 days
50 days
72 days
108 days
3 cm
16 days
49 days
81 days
113 days
162 days
243 days

Accelerated UV Testing Chart: Desert Zone

> Spot size vs. Time to test

1 year
3 years
5 years
7 years
10 years
15 years
2 cm
8.9 days
27 days
45 days
63 days
89 days
134 days
3 cm
20 days
60 days
101 days
141 days
201 days
302 days

Spectral Measurement Services

Solar Light can provide spectral analysis of sensors, light sources, and the transmissivity and reflectivity of materials. Using advanced spectroradiometers, monochromators, NIST traceable standard lamps, and NIST Traceable standard sensors, Solar Light provides absolute spectroradiometric analyses.

Services Include:

  • Spectral light transmission characteristics of a material
  • The spectral response of a sensor
  • The spectral output of a light source

Test and Measurement Standards

Include, but are not limited to:

  • ASTM G 151 – 97 “Standard Practice for Exposing nonmetallic materials in accelerated test devices that use laboratory light sources”
  • ASTM G-155-05a “Standard practice for Operating Xenon Arc Light Apparatus for Exposure of Non-Metallic Materials”
  • ASTM D 2565 – 99 “Standard practice for Xenon-Arc exposure of plastics intended for outdoor applications”
  • ASTM D 4459 – 99 “Standard practice for Xenon-Arc exposure of plastics intended for indoor applications”
  • ASTM D5071 – 06 “Standard Practice for Exposure of Photodegradable Plastics in a Xenon Arc Apparatus”
  • ASTM D4329 – 05 “Standard Practice for Fluorescent UV Exposure of Plastics”
  • ASTM D5208-09 “Standard Practice for Fluorescent Ultraviolet (UV) Exposure of Photodegradable Plastics”
  • ASTM D 4674 – 89 “Standard test method for accelerated testing for color stability of plastics exposed to indoor fluorescent lighting and window-filtered daylight”
  • ASTM D3424 − 11 “Standard Practice for Evaluating the Relative Lightfastness and Weatherability of Printed Matter”
  • ASTM D4303-03 “Standard Test Methods for Light fastness of Colorants Used in artists’ materials”
  • ASTM D4587-11 “Standard Practice for Fluorescent UV-Condensation Exposures of Paint and Related Coatings”
  • ASTM D750- 06 “Standard Test Method for Rubber Deterioration Using Artificial Weathering Apparatus”
  • ASTM D6695 – 08 “Standard Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposures of Paint and Related Coatings”
  • ASTM G147 “Standard Practice for Conditioning and Handling of Nonmetallic Materials for Natural and Artificial Weathering Tests”
  • ASTM ISO 4892-2 “Plastics – Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources – Part 2 Xenon arc  sources”
  • ASTM ISO 4892-3 “Plastics – Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources – Part 3 Fluorescent UV lamps”
  • ASTM ISO 11341 “Paints and varnishes – Artificial weathering and exposure to artificial radiation – Exposure to filtered xenon-arc radiation”
  • ASTM BS EN ISO 105-B02:1999 “Color fastness to artificial light: Xenon arc fading lamp test”

Color test standards

  • ASTM E308-08 “Computing the colors of objects using the CIE system”
  • ASTM E313-05 “Standard Practice for Calculating Yellowness and Whiteness Indices from Instrumentally Measured COLOR Coordinates (Abstract only)”
  • ASTM E1347 – 06 “Standard Test Method for Color and Color-Difference Measurement by Tristimulus Colorimetry”
  • ASTM D1729 “Practice for Visual Appraisal of Colors and Color Differences of Diffusely-Illuminated Opaque Materials”
  • ASTM D6290-13 “Standard Test Method for Color Determination of Plastic Pellets UV Exposure Tests”

UPF Standards

  • AATCC TM183-2010 “Transmittance or Blocking of Erythemally Weighted Ultraviolet Radiation through Fabrics”
  • ASTM D6544 “UPF Standard Practice for Preparation of Textiles Prior to Ultraviolet (UV) Transmission Testing”
  • ASTM D6603 “Standard Specification for Labeling of UV-Protective Textiles1″
  • AS_NZS_4399 “Sun protective clothing— Evaluation and classification”
  • BS EN 13758-1 “Textiles – Solar UV protective properties – Method of test for apparel fabrics”
  • GBT18830-2009 “Textiles – Evaluation for solar ultraviolet protective properties”

Test and Measurement Equipment

Solar Light Company, LLC’s Testing Laboratory is complete with state of the art simulators, radiometers, chambers, lamps, and controllers, ensuring our ability to easily process nearly any testing application, material, or special requests customers may have. Our hardware includes:

Light Sources

  • Solar Light Model 16S-150-003 Short Arc Xenon UV Solar Simulators
  • Solar Light Model 16S-300-003 Short Arc Xenon UV Solar Simulators
  • UVA Fluorescent lamps
  • UVA+B Fluorescent lamps
  • UVC Fluorescent lamps
  • High Intensity Visible Fluorescent lamps
  • Solar Light Model LS-1000 6″ Air Mass
  • Solar Light Model LS-1000 6″ UV Solar Simulator

Instrumentation

  • Solar Light Model PMA2100 dual channel datalogging radiometer
  • Solar Light Model PMA2107 UVA+B Sensors
  • Solar Light Model PMA2110 UVA Sensors
  • Solar Light Model PMA2144 Class II Pyranometer
  • Hunter Lab Model CQXE Spectrophotometer
  • Optronic Laboratories Model 750 Double Grating Monochromator System
  • Optronic Laboratories Model 740 A/D Double Grating Monochromator
  • Optronic Laboratories Model 730A Radiometer
  • Optronic Laboratories Model 740-1C Controller
  • Optronic Laboratories Model OL 220M Quartz-halogen lamp
  • Optronic Laboratories Model 65DS Precision Current Source
  • Solar Light 290SPF UV Transmission Analyzer

Controlled Environmental Test Equipment

  • Stability Environments Controlled Temperature, Humidity & Light Walk-in Chamber
  • Stability Environments 33 cu ft Controlled Temperature & Humidity Reach-in Chamber
  • Tenney Environmental Chamber

Procedure to send Materials and Equipment to Solar Light for testing:

1. Select one of our Material Testing services here.

2. Follow the corresponding instructions and mark box “Attn: Materials Testing Laboratory”.

3. Issue a purchase order or include payment information.

4. Provide specific shipping instructions for the return shipment and fax or e-mail P.O. / Return Form to Solar Light Company and

5. Enclosed a copy of the “Materials Testing Form” in the package with the instrument along with price quotation.

Ship prepaid via UPS or FedEx, fully insured to:

Solar Light Company, LLC
Attn: Materials Testing Laboratory
100 East Glenside Avenue
Glenside, PA. 19038 USA
Tel: 215 517-8700
E-mail: [email protected]

Notes:

1. If the customer is from outside the United States, mark shipping documents/commercial invoice with:
“U.S.A. Goods being returned to the manufacturer for repair and re-shipment back to us.”

2. Solar Light will inspect the material upon receipt and will obtain approval of testing before proceeding with the work.

3. Solar Light standard payment terms are: Payment in Advance (before shipment) either by major Credit Card with 1.5% surcharge or via bank wire transfer