ASTM D4459-21

Standard Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposure of Plastics Intended for Indoor Applications

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice is intended to simulate the effects produced by exposure to solar radiation through glass. This practice uses exposure in a xenon-arc device equipped with window glass filters and operated in accordance with Practices G151 and G155.
Note 2: Practice D4674 describes exposures in a device that uses a combination of fluorescent “cool white” and ultraviolet (UV) lamps to simulate the effects of exposures to indoor fluorescent light and window glass filtered daylight.  
4.2 Warning—Variation in results may be expected when operating conditions are varied within the accepted limits of this practice. Therefore, all references to the use of this practice must be accompanied by a report prepared in accordance with Section 9 that describes the specific operating conditions used. Refer to Practice G151 for detailed information on the caveats applicable to use of results obtained in accordance with this practice.
Note 3: Additional information on sources of variability and on strategies for addressing variability in the design, execution and data analysis of laboratory accelerated exposure tests is found in Guide G141.  
4.3 Test results will depend upon the care that is taken to operate the equipment in accordance with Practice G155. Significant factors include regulation of line voltage, temperature and humidity control, and condition and age of the lamps and filters.  
4.4 Reproducibility of test results between laboratories has been shown to be good when the stability of materials is evaluated in terms of performance ranking compared to other materials or to a control.4,5 Therefore, exposure of a similar material of known performance (a control) at the same time as the test materials is strongly recommended. The number of specimens of the control material should be the same as that used for test materials. It is recommended that at least three replicates of each material be exposed to allow for statistical evaluation of results.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers specific procedures and test conditions that are applicable for exposure of plastics in window glass-filtered xenon-arc devices in accordance with Practices G151 and G155 for evaluating the stability of plastics intended for use in indoor applications.  
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Note 1: There is no known ISO equivalent to this practice.  
1.3 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Jan-2021
• ICS: 83.080.01 - Plastics in general
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.50 - Durability of Plastics

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D4459 − 21
Standard Practice for
Xenon-Arc Exposure of Plastics Intended for Indoor
1
Applications
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4459; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
1.1 This practice covers specific procedures and test condi-
G113 Terminology Relating to Natural andArtificial Weath-
tions that are applicable for exposure of plastics in window
ering Tests of Nonmetallic Materials
glass-filtered xenon-arc devices in accordance with Practices
G141 Guide for Addressing Variability in Exposure Testing
G151 and G155 for evaluating the stability of plastics intended
of Nonmetallic Materials
for use in indoor applications.
G147 Practice for Conditioning and Handling of Nonmetal-
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
lic Materials for Natural and Artificial Weathering Tests
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
G151 Practice for Exposing Nonmetallic Materials inAccel-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
erated Test Devices that Use Laboratory Light Sources
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
G155 Practice for Operating XenonArc LightApparatus for
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Exposure of Non-Metallic Materials
NOTE 1—There is no known ISO equivalent to this practice. G169 Guide for Application of Basic Statistical Methods to
Weathering Tests
1.3 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3. Terminology
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- 3.1 The definitions in Terminology G113 are applicable to
this practice.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
4. Significance and Use
2. Referenced Documents
4.1 This practice is intended to simulate the effects pro-
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
duced by exposure to solar radiation through glass. This
D1729 Practice for Visual Appraisal of Colors and Color
practice uses exposure in a xenon-arc device equipped with
Differences of Diffusely-Illuminated Opaque Materials
window glass filters and operated in accordance with Practices
D2244 Practice for Calculation of Color Tolerances and
G151 and G155.
Color Differences from Instrumentally Measured Color
NOTE 2—Practice D4674 describes exposures in a device that uses a
Coordinates
combination of fluorescent “cool white” and ultraviolet (UV) lamps to
D3980 Practice for Interlaboratory Testing of Paint and
simulate the effects of exposures to indoor fluorescent light and window
3
Related Materials (Withdrawn 1998)
glass filtered daylight.
D4674 PracticeforAcceleratedTestingforColorStabilityof
4.2 Warning—Variation in results may be expected when
Plastics Exposed to Indoor Office Environments
operating conditions are varied within the accepted limits of
D5870 Practice for Calculating Property Retention Index of
thispractice.Therefore,allreferencestotheuseofthispractice
Plastics
must be accompanied by a report prepared in accordance with
Section 9 that describes the specific operating conditions used.
1
ThispracticeisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD20onPlasticsand
Refer to Practice G151 for detailed information on the caveats
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.50 on Durability of Plastics.
applicable to use of results obtained in accordance with this
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2021. Published January 2021. Originally
approved in 1985. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D4459 - 12. DOI:
practice.
10.1520/D4459-21.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or NOTE 3—Additional information on sources of variability and on
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
strategies for addressing variability in the design, execution and data
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
analysis of laboratory accelerated exposure tests is found in Guide G141.
the ASTM website.
3 4.3 Test results will depend upon the care that is taken to
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
www.astm.org. operate the equipment in accordance with Practice G155.
*A Summary of Cha
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D4459 − 12 D4459 − 21
Standard Practice for
Xenon-Arc Exposure of Plastics Intended for Indoor
1
Applications
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4459; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 This practice covers specific procedures and test conditions that are applicable for exposure of plastics in window glass-filtered
xenon-arc devices in accordance with Practices G151 and G155 for evaluating the stability of plastics intended for use in indoor
applications.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
NOTE 1—There is no known ISO equivalent to this practice.
NOTE 1—There is no known ISO equivalent to this practice.
1.3 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1729 Practice for Visual Appraisal of Colors and Color Differences of Diffusely-Illuminated Opaque Materials
D2244 Practice for Calculation of Color Tolerances and Color Differences from Instrumentally Measured Color Coordinates
3
D3980 Practice for Interlaboratory Testing of Paint and Related Materials (Withdrawn 1998)
D4674 Practice for Accelerated Testing for Color Stability of Plastics Exposed to Indoor Office Environments
D5870 Practice for Calculating Property Retention Index of Plastics
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
G113 Terminology Relating to Natural and Artificial Weathering Tests of Nonmetallic Materials
G141 Guide for Addressing Variability in Exposure Testing of Nonmetallic Materials
G147 Practice for Conditioning and Handling of Nonmetallic Materials for Natural and Artificial Weathering Tests
G151 Practice for Exposing Nonmetallic Materials in Accelerated Test Devices that Use Laboratory Light Sources
G155 Practice for Operating Xenon Arc Light Apparatus for Exposure of Non-Metallic Materials
G169 Guide for Application of Basic Statistical Methods to Weathering Tests
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.50 on Durability of Plastics.
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2012Jan. 15, 2021. Published November 2012January 2021. Originally approved in 1985. Last previous edition approved in 20062012
as D4459 - 06.D4459 - 12. DOI: 10.1520/D4459-12.10.1520/D4459-21.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D4459 − 21
3. Terminology
3.1 The definitions in Terminology G113 are applicable to this practice.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 This practice is intended to simulate the effects produced by exposure to solar radiation through glass. This practice uses
exposure in a xenon-arc device equipped with window glass filters and operated in accordance with Practices G151 and G155.
NOTE 2—Practice D4674 describes exposures in a device that uses a combination of fluorescent “cool white” and ultraviolet (UV) lamps to simulate the
effects of exposures to indoor fluorescent light and window glass filtered daylight.
4.2 Warning—Variation in results may be expected when operating conditions are varied within the accepted limits of this
practice. Therefore, all references to the use of this practice must be accompanied by a report prepared in accordance with Section
9 tha
...