ASTM G141-03

Standard Guide for Addressing Variability in Exposure Testing on Nonmetallic Materials

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Many standards and specifications reference exposure tests performed according to standards that are the responsibility of Committee G03 on Durability of Nonmetallic Materials. In many cases, use of the data generated in these tests fails to consider the ramifications of variability in the exposure test practices. This variability can have a profound effect on the interpretation of results from the exposure tests, and if not taken into consideration in test design and data analysis, can lead to erroneous or misleading conclusions. This guide lists some of the sources for test variability and recommends strategies for executing successful weathering studies. Not all sources of variability in weathering testing are addressed in this guide. Specific materials, sampling procedures, specimen preparation, specimen conditioning, and material property measurements can contribute significantly to variability in weathering test results. Many of these concerns are addressed in Guide G 147. To reduce the contribution of an instrumental method to test variability, it is essential to follow appropriate calibration procedures and ASTM standards associated with the particular property measurement. Additional sources of variability in test results are listed in Guide D 4853, along with methods for identifying probable causes.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers information on sources of variability and strategies for its reduction in exposure testing, and for taking variability into consideration in the design, execution, and data analysis of both exterior and laboratory accelerated exposure tests.  
1.2 The values stated in either inch-pound or SI units are to be regarded separately as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.  
1.3 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Nov-2003
• ICS: 19.020 - Test conditions and procedures in general
• Technical Committee: G03 - Weathering and Durability
• Drafting Committee: G03.93 - Statistics

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM G141-96 - Standard Guide for Addressing Variability in Exposure Testing on Nonmetallic Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2003
• Replaced By: ASTM G141-09 - Standard Guide for Addressing Variability in Exposure Testing on Nonmetallic Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D4303-10(2022) - Standard Test Methods for Lightfastness of Colorants Used in Artists' Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D1435-20 - Standard Practice for Outdoor Weathering of Plastics
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D4674-19 - Standard Practice for Accelerated Testing for Color Stability of Plastics Exposed to Indoor Office Environments
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D5071-06(2021) - Standard Practice for Exposure of Photodegradable Plastics in a Xenon Arc Apparatus
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D5208-14(2022) - Standard Practice for Fluorescent Ultraviolet (UV) Exposure of Photodegradable Plastics
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D4459-21 - Standard Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposure of Plastics Intended for Indoor Applications
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2003
• Referred By: ASTM G151-19 - Standard Practice for Exposing Nonmetallic Materials in Accelerated Test Devices that Use Laboratory Light Sources
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D2565-16 - Standard Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposure of Plastics Intended for Outdoor Applications
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D4587-23 - Standard Practice for Fluorescent UV-Condensation Exposures of Paint and Related Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D6990-20 - Standard Practice for Evaluating Biofouling Resistance and Physical Performance of Marine Coating Systems
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2003
• Referred By: ASTM C1442-14(2021) - Standard Practice for Conducting Tests on Sealants Using Artificial Weathering Apparatus
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2003
• Referred By: ASTM G201-16 - Standard Practice for Conducting Exposures in Outdoor Glass-Covered Exposure Apparatus with Air Circulation
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D3361/D3361M-22 - Standard Practice for Unfiltered Open-Flame Carbon-Arc Exposures of Paint and Related Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2003

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation:G141–03
Standard Guide for
Addressing Variability in Exposure Testing of Nonmetallic
1
Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation G141; 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.
INTRODUCTION
No experimental procedure is exactly repeatable or reproducible. Exposure testing is susceptible to
poor test reproducibility because of many contributing factors. These include the type of material and
its homogeneity, the complexity and variability of the outdoor environment, difficulty in precisely
controllingthelaboratorytestingenvironment,andthevariabilityinthemeasurementofperformance.
It is extremely difficult to compare “absolute data,” that is, color shift, gloss, tensile, and elongation,
andsoforth,fromdifferentexposuretests.Thisistruefornaturalandacceleratedexposuresconducted
outdoors or for accelerated exposure tests conducted at different times in one laboratory or comparing
results between laboratories. The purpose of this guide is to provide the user with background
information on test variability and guidance to conduct an exposure test that will provide valid and
useful durability information.
1. Scope D6631 Guide for Committee D01 for Conducting an Inter-
laboratory Study for the Purpose of Determining the
1.1 This guide covers information on sources of variability
Precision of a Test Method
and strategies for its reduction in exposure testing, and for
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
taking variability into consideration in the design, execution,
ASTM Test Methods
and data analysis of both exterior and laboratory accelerated
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
exposure tests.
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded sepa-
G7 Practice forAtmospheric Environmental ExposureTest-
rately as the standard. The inch-pound values given in paren-
ing of Nonmetallic Materials
theses are for information only.
G24 PracticeforConductingExposurestoDaylightFiltered
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Through Glass
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
G90 Practice for PerformingAccelerated Outdoor Weather-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
ing of Nonmetallic Materials Using Concentrated Natural
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
Sunlight
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
G113 TerminologyRelatingtoNaturalandArtificialWeath-
2. Referenced Documents
ering Tests of Nonmetallic Materials
2
G147 Practice for Conditioning and Handling of Nonmetal-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3
lic Materials for Natural and Artificial Weathering Tests
D4853 Guide for Reducing Test Variability
G151 Practice for Exposing Nonmetallic Materials in Ac-
celerated Test Devices that Use Laboratory Light Sources
G152 Practice for Operating Open Flame CarbonArc Light
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee G03 on Durability of
Apparatus for Exposure of Nonmetallic Materials
Nonmetallic Materials and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee G03.93 on
Statistics.
G153 Practice for Operating Enclosed Carbon Arc Light
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2003. Published January 2004. Originally
Apparatus for Exposure of Nonmetallic Materials
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 1996 as G141 – 96. DOI:
G154 Practice for Operating Fluorescent Light Apparatus
10.1520/G0141-03.
2
for UV Exposure of Nonmetallic Materials
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
G155 PracticeforOperatingXenonArcLightApparatusfor
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Exposure of Non-Metallic Materials
the ASTM website.
3
G166 Guide for Statistical Analysis of Service Life Data
Withdrawn. The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced
on www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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G141–03
G169 Guide forApplication of Basic Statistical Methods to time of year. This can cause significant differences in the rate
Weathering Tests of degradation in many polymers. Therefore, comparison of
results between short-term exposure studies (less than one full
3. Terminology
year) will be subject to greater variability. If exposures of less
3.1 Definitions:
than a full year are required, consider using times when
3
...