Solar Light Company, LLC offers an ultra-accurate Accelerated Indoor UV Testing / Florescent Light Testing Service for indoor 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 inside. The company’s state of the art laboratory uses fluorescent sources of several types, depending on the customer’s unique requirements. In most cases, exposure to a year’s worth of indoor can be accomplished in under a week, objectively determining the sample material’s reaction per standards such as ASTM G154 “Standard Practice for Operating Fluorescent Light Apparatus for Exposure of Non-Metallic Materials.” We have also tested to ASTM D 4329-05 (Standard Practice for Fluorescent UV Exposure of Plastics,) ASTM D 5208-09 (Standard Practice for Fluorescent Ultraviolet Exposure of Photodegradable Plastics,) and many others.

The relation for exposure conditions in any given simulation for Accelerated Indoor UV Testing will rest upon modeling and the multiple experiment evaluations we have already applied to similar materials.  Measurements to evaluate the UVA and Visible irradiance from fluorescent lamps using our NIST traceable sensors have been necessary to determine acceptable acceleration rates, guide the models, and to conform to the specifications.  We can also examine the color changes (CIE L* a* b* & Delta-E) using our Hunter CQ-XE spectrophotometer, which can also be used to measure transmission of visible light through transparent materials.

Here are some of the most common arrangements we have devised based on particular material and product performance requirements:

• UVA Accelerated Indoor Exposure – Using exclusively ultraviolet light.
• High Output White Light – Broadband High output lamps, with some ultraviolet light.
• Combined UVA and High Output White light – Simulates Indoor with some sunlight through window glass.
• UVA (using ‘UVA-350’ designated lamps) – An alternative method of Indoor Testing with sunlight through window glass.
• Combined UVA+B, glass filter and High Output White light  – Another alternative method of Indoor Testing with sunlight through window glass simulation.

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 Accelerated Indoor Light testing, and are the first choice for the most demanding clients in Medical, Furniture, Art, and dozens of other industries worldwide. Please contact us today for more information!