Sun (exposure) tests

Various exposure tests are available for paints and coating systems. These tests are also referred to as weathering or accelerated weathering.

The most important ones are:

  • ISO 16474-1, general guidelines for laboratory light exposure tests
  • ISO 16474-2, Xenon test, variation in wavelength, irradiance level, temperature, RH, wetting method, water temperature, wetting cycle
  • ISO 16474-3, UV test, distinguishing between UVA (340 nm) and UVB (313 nm) light; various cycles are specified (alternating dry irradiation and a condensation or water phase), with variations in black-panel temperature; RH is not controlled; this test is part of ISO 12944 parts 6 and 9
  • ISO 11341, this standard features 4 different cycles, 2 of which alternate dry and wet and 2 of which involve continuous dry exposure; irradiance is equivalent to ISO 4892-2; applied in Qualisteelcoat
  • ISO 4892-2, Xenon lamp, variation in wavelength, irradiance level, temperature, RH, wetting method, water temperature, and wetting/light cycle; this standard has many similarities to ISO 16474-2
  • ISO 4892-3, UV lamp (short-wavelength UV), variation in UV lamp type, irradiance level, temperature, wetting method, water temperature, and wetting/light cycle; this standard has many similarities to ISO 16474-3
  • ASTM G151, general guidelines for accelerated test methods using laboratory light sources
  • ASTM G154, UV exposure, largely identical to ISO 4892-3 and ISO 16474-3.