What Is UV?
UV aging test is performed in which the sample is exposed to radiation produced by fluorescent UV lamps along with defined temperature and condensation/water spray cycles; It is an experiment in which color, brightness and mechanical property changes are monitored.
Purpose of UV
The aim is to comparatively evaluate the degradation of the material under the influence of light and moisture under accelerated conditions.
Which Products Is UV Applied To?
- Outdoor plastic parts
- Paints and coatings
- Textiles and coated fabrics
- Rubber and elastomer profiles
In Which Sectors Is UV Used?
Standards Related to UV
- ISO 4892-3
- ASTM G154fluorescent UV accelerated aging test
- ASTM D4329
- ASTM G151 (genel gereksinimler)
UV Conditions
- Lamp type
- Standard-defined fluorescent UV lamps such as UVA-340 or UVB-313
- Radiation
- Set and monitored in W/m²·nm at defined wavelength
- Cycle
- Alternating periods of light and condensation/water spraying
- Temperature
- Identified and recorded as black panel temperature
Equipment for UV
- Fluorescent UV weathering chamber
- Irradiance measurement and control system
- Siyah panel termometresi
- Colorimeter, gloss meter and tensile device
Sample Requirements for UV
- Sample surface should be representative of the final product
- Initial colour, gloss and mechanical values should be recorded
- Sample position should be rotated within the cabin
- Control samples should be kept for comparison
Duration of UV
2 weeks to several months, depending on the exposure time defined in the specification.
UV Procedure
- 1Initial measurements are taken.
- 2Lamp type, irradiance and cycle are selected.
- 3Specimens are placed in the chamber.
- 4Exposure is maintained for the defined duration.
- 5Interim measurements are taken.
- 6Colour, gloss and mechanical change are evaluated.
UV Acceptance Criteria
Acceptance criteria are given in the specification: color difference, loss of gloss and loss of mechanical properties remain below the limit at the end of defined exposure.
Evaluation of Results
UVB-313 lamps contain short wavelengths not found in natural sunlight and create unrealistic degradation of some materials; Whichever lamp the material standard requires should be used. The number of accelerated hours cannot be converted to years of natural exposure.
UV Report
- Applied standard and lamp type
- Irradiance level and cycle program
- Black panel temperature
- Exposure duration
- Before/after measurements and evaluation
Accreditation
EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.
Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Scope and authorisationsRelated Regulations
- Product standards and OEM specifications
Otomotiv Testleri — What Does This Testing Field Cover?
The section below describes the field that the UV test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Automotive testing shows that a component keeps working under conditions representing the loads it will meet over the life of the vehicle. A vehicle is not a single product but an ENVIRONMENT: vibration, temperature cycling, salt water, stone impact, electrical transients and electromagnetic noise are all present at the same time and for years.
What distinguishes this family is that VEHICLE MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS sit on top of the standards. ISO and SAE publications establish the common ground; but Volkswagen, BMW, Ford, Stellantis, Toyota and Renault define different severity levels, additional tests and different acceptance criteria in their own specifications. For a component, the phrase "complies with automotive standards" is not sufficient on its own; which manufacturer's specification, and which revision of it, must be answered.
The family carries three separate processes together and they are often confused. Homologation covers the type approvals a vehicle needs to enter traffic and runs under state authority. Supplier approval means passing the vehicle manufacturer's own quality and testing requirements and is a commercial relationship. The third is design verification: the engineering team demonstrating that its own design meets its targets.
At component level the test plan is built around the LOCATION OF USE. A module in the engine bay and a module in the boot do not go through the same temperature and vibration profile; a component inside a door and one in the roof console do not see the same water and dust exposure. The ISO 16750 series is the common framework for this location-based approach.
The shift to electric vehicles has reshaped the field. High-voltage safety, insulation coordination, battery safety, charging interface conformity and the electromagnetic behaviour of high-voltage components have been added to the classical automotive test set. In a quiet vehicle, acoustic and vibration expectations have changed too; sounds once masked by the combustion engine are now audible.
The quality system side cannot be separated from testing in this field. A manufacturer under IATF 16949 presents test results in the PPAP file; measurement system analysis, process capability study and the control plan stand around the test report. A single good result is not enough — the process must be shown to be able to repeat it.
Method groups in this field
Environmental and climatic
Temperature cycling, thermal shock, damp heat, salt spray, dust and water ingress (IP), solar radiation. Severity levels vary with the mounting location.
Mechanical
Sine and random vibration, shock, mechanical loads, fastener torque and durability cycles.
Electrical
Supply voltage variations, transients (ISO 7637), reverse polarity, overvoltage, short circuit and sleep current measurements.
EMC
Component emissions (CISPR 25), radiated and conducted immunity (ISO 11452 series), electrostatic discharge (ISO 10605).
Materials and emissions
Odour, fogging and VOC emissions from interior materials; flammability; UV ageing; coating durability and stone impact.
Functional safety and cyber security
Functional safety evidence under ISO 26262 and cyber security engineering under ISO/SAE 21434; these are tied to regulation through UNECE R155 and R156.
Commonly confused in this field
- An automotive report without a specification reference is not accepted in the supply chain; which OEM specification and revision was applied must be stated.
- Type approval and supplier approval are different processes. A component with E-Mark approval is not thereby considered to have passed the OEM's own acceptance tests.
- A result obtained on a prototype does not carry over to series production; PPAP is done with series production parts.
- On the EMC side, measuring emissions alone is incomplete; immunity is a separate body of work and is more critical in a vehicle.
- On electric vehicle components, high-voltage safety is a distinct competence; classical 12 V test infrastructure is not sufficient.
Which decisions these results support
- Supplier component approval and the PPAP file
- UNECE type approval and E-Mark marking
- Design verification and durability evidence
- Root cause analysis of field complaints and warranty returns
- Assessing the impact of a design or supplier change
Related Tests
Frequently Asked Questions About UV
How many years of outdoor exposure does 1000 hours of UV correspond to?
Such a cycle cannot be made. Time-lapse UV testing is used to compare materials and capture formulation changes; cannot be converted to natural exposure time.