ASTM D4364-13(2022)e1
(Practice)Standard Practice for Performing Outdoor Accelerated Weathering Tests of Plastics Using Concentrated Sunlight
Standard Practice for Performing Outdoor Accelerated Weathering Tests of Plastics Using Concentrated Sunlight
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice involves the concentration of sunlight by a system of plane mirrors, arranged to simulate a parabolic trough focused on an air-cooled target board on which the test specimens are mounted. Exposure cycles with and without water spray that are commonly used for this method are described in Table 1. Other exposure cycles not listed in Table 1 can be used, upon consensual agreement between interested parties. (A) This is the cycle specified in Procedure C of Practice D4141/D4141M.
4.1.1 Accelerated outdoor exposure tests performed using this practice in an absence of a programmed moisture cycle are intended to simulate conventional exposure testing on racks facing the equator in desert and arid regions.
4.1.2 Accelerated outdoor exposure tests performed using this practice with a programmed moisture cycle shall possess the feature of spraying high purity water on the specimens in a regular, periodic fashion that is intended to simulate the results of conventional exposure testing on fixed racks facing the equator in subtropical, semi-humid, and temperate regions. Water-spray cycles that are recommended by this practice are given in Table 1.
4.2 The effectiveness of the Fresnel-reflector accelerated outdoor weathering test machines depends primarily on the amount and character of the UV in the direct-beam component of sunlight.
Note 2: Use of the apparatus in regions of moderate- to high-diffuse irradiance will reduce the test machine's effectiveness substantially for providing concentrated UV in the target (specimen) area.
4.3 Testing to specific levels (quantities) of solar ultraviolet radiant exposure is recommended. Elapsed time exposure-level determinations shall not be used for testing with this practice. Testing to specific levels of UV irradiation, whether to total UV or within selected wavebands, is an effective method for improving agreement between wintertime and summertime testing on the Fresnel-reflector weathering-test machi...
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the use of Fresnel-reflecting concentrators that use the sun as a source of ultraviolet (UV) and longer wavelength radiation. Such devices are used in the outdoor accelerated exposure testing of plastics.
1.2 This practice provides a procedure for performing outdoor accelerated exposure testing of plastics using a Fresnel-reflector outdoor accelerated weathering test machine. The apparatus is described herein and in Practice G90 more completely.
1.3 This practice is applicable to a range of plastic materials including, but not limited to, plastic films, sheets, laminates, and extruded and molded products in a variety of shapes and sizes, as specified in 8.2 and 8.3.
1.4 This practice describes test conditions that attempt to simulate plastics exposures in desert and subtropical climates. Specimen preparation, property testing procedures, and the evaluation of results are covered in existing test methods or specifications for specific materials.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.6 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. Specific precautionary statements are given in Section 7.
Note 1: This standard is equivalent to ISO 877-3: 2009.
1.7 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
Relations
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.
´1
Designation:D4364 −13(Reapproved 2022)
Standard Practice for
Performing Outdoor Accelerated Weathering Tests of
Plastics Using Concentrated Sunlight
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4364; 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.
ε NOTE—Reapproved with editorial changes in January 2022.
1. Scope* mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.1 This practice covers the use of Fresnel-reflecting con-
centrators that use the sun as a source of ultraviolet (UV) and
2. Referenced Documents
longer wavelength radiation. Such devices are used in the
outdoor accelerated exposure testing of plastics. 2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.2 This practice provides a procedure for performing out-
D859 Test Method for Silica in Water
door accelerated exposure testing of plastics using a Fresnel-
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
reflector outdoor accelerated weathering test machine. The
D1435 Practice for Outdoor Weathering of Plastics
apparatus is described herein and in Practice G90 more
D1600 Terminology forAbbreviatedTerms Relating to Plas-
completely.
tics
1.3 This practice is applicable to a range of plastic materials D1898 Practice for Sampling of Plastics (Withdrawn 1998)
including, but not limited to, plastic films, sheets, laminates,
D4141/D4141M Practice for Conducting Black Box and
and extruded and molded products in a variety of shapes and
Solar Concentrating Exposures of Coatings
sizes, as specified in 8.2 and 8.3.
D4517 Test Method for Low-Level Total Silica in High-
Purity Water by Flameless Atomic Absorption Spectros-
1.4 This practice describes test conditions that attempt to
copy
simulate plastics exposures in desert and subtropical climates.
E772 Terminology of Solar Energy Conversion
Specimen preparation, property testing procedures, and the
evaluation of results are covered in existing test methods or E824 Test Method for Transfer of Calibration From Refer-
specifications for specific materials.
ence to Field Radiometers
G7/G7M Practice for Natural Weathering of Materials
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
G24 Practice for Conducting Exposures to Daylight Filtered
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
Through Glass
standard.
G90 Practice for Performing Accelerated Outdoor Weather-
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
ing of Materials Using Concentrated Natural Sunlight
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
G113 Terminology Relating to Natural andArtificial Weath-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
ering Tests of Nonmetallic Materials
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2.2 ISO Standard:
Specific precautionary statements are given in Section 7.
ISO 877-3: 2009 Plastics—Methods of exposure to solar
radiation—Part 3: Intensified weathering using concen-
NOTE 1—This standard is equivalent to ISO 877-3: 2009.
trated solar radiation
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
ThispracticeisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD20onPlasticsand the ASTM website.
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.50 on Durability of Plastics. The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2022. Published February 2022. Originally www.astm.org.
approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as D4364 – 13. DOI: Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
10.1520/D4364-13R22E01. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.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
D4364−13(2022)
3. Terminology performed on heat-sensitive plastics to record the typical
monthly test specimen temperatures.
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of technical terms pertain-
ing to plastics used in this practice, see Terminologies D883,
NOTE 3—It is possible for heat-sensitive plastic materials and thick
specimens that are self-insulating to exhibit thermal-induced degradation
D1600, E772, and G113 (for weathering terminology).
that is unrealistic compared to natural weathering. Clear, thin-film
photodegradable plastics are not recommended for testing with this
4. Significance and Use
practice for this reason.
4.1 This practice involves the concentration of sunlight by a
4.5 Since the natural environment varies with respect to
system of plane mirrors, arranged to simulate a parabolic
time, geography, and topography, it can be expected that the
trough focused on an air-cooled target board on which the test
effects of natural exposure will vary accordingly. Furthermore,
specimens are mounted. Exposure cycles with and without
all materials are not affected equally by increased irradiance
water spray that are commonly used for this method are
and temperature. The quantitative correlation between expo-
described in Table 1. Other exposure cycles not listed in Table
sures conducted in accordance with this practice and those
1 can be used, upon consensual agreement between interested
conducted under specified natural exposure conditions will
parties.
therefore vary with the type and composition of the material.
4.1.1 Accelerated outdoor exposure tests performed using
this practice in an absence of a programmed moisture cycle are
4.6 While reference materials tested in accordance with this
intended to simulate conventional exposure testing on racks practice and Practices G7/G7M and D1435 are useful for
facing the equator in desert and arid regions.
providing information on the relationship between accelerated
4.1.2 Accelerated outdoor exposure tests performed using and real-time tests, the acceleration factor found for the
this practice with a programmed moisture cycle shall possess
reference material cannot be used to extrapolate results of the
the feature of spraying high purity water on the specimens in a accelerated test to predict lifetimes under natural exposure
regular, periodic fashion that is intended to simulate the results
except for the specific material for which the relationship has
of conventional exposure testing on fixed racks facing the been established.
equator in subtropical, semi-humid, and temperate regions.
Water-spray cycles that are recommended by this practice are
5. Apparatus
given in Table 1.
5.1 The testing apparatus shall be a Fresnel-reflecting de-
4.2 The effectiveness of the Fresnel-reflector accelerated
vice possessing ten flat mirrors that focus direct sunlight onto
outdoor weathering test machines depends primarily on the
an air-cooled specimen area. A more complete description of
amount and character of the UV in the direct-beam component
the apparatus can be found in Practice G90. See Fig. 1 (Single
of sunlight.
Axis Tracking) and Fig. 2 (Dual Axis Tracking).
NOTE 2—Use of the apparatus in regions of moderate- to high-diffuse
NOTE 4—The apparatus should be operated in dry, sunny climates
irradiance will reduce the test machine’s effectiveness substantially for
receiving 3500 to 4000 h or more of sunshine per year and an average
providing concentrated UV in the target (specimen) area.
annual relative humidity of approximately 30 % or less.
4.3 Testing to specific levels (quantities) of solar ultraviolet
5.2 Water Quality:
radiantexposureisrecommended.Elapsedtimeexposure-level
5.2.1 The purity of water used for specimen spray is very
determinations shall not be used for testing with this practice.
important.Without proper treatment to remove cations, anions,
TestingtospecificlevelsofUVirradiation,whethertototalUV
organics, and particularly silica, exposed panels will develop
or within selected wavebands, is an effective method for
spots or stains that do not occur in exterior exposures.
improving agreement between wintertime and summertime
5.2.2 Water used for specimen spray shall leave no objec-
testing on the Fresnel-reflector weathering-test machines.
tionable deposits or stains on the exposed specimens. It is
Other seasonal factors such as temperature and time of wetness
strongly recommended that the water contain below 1 ppm
can affect the weathering of test specimens significantly.
solids and below 0.2 ppm silica. Determine silica levels in
4.4 The weathering machines described provide for speci- accordance with the procedures in Test Methods D859 or
men cooling that reduces thermal problems in most materials. D4517. Prepackaged analysis kits are commercially available
It is recommended that monthly temperature measurements be that are capable of detecting silica levels of below 200 ppb. A
TABLE 1 Fresnel-Reflector Test Machine Standard Spray Cycles
Daytime N
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