The World’s Most Widely Used Weathering Tester.
The QUV accelerated weathering tester reproduces the damage caused by sunlight, rain and dew. It simulates the effects of natural sunlight and artificial irradiance using special fluorescent UV lamps in the UVA, UVB, and UVC portions of the spectrum. It simulates dew and rain with condensing humidity and/or water spray.
In a few days or weeks, the QUV UV tester can reproduce the damage that occurs over months or years outdoors. The QUV accelerated weathering tester is the simplest, most reliable, and easiest to use weathering tester available.
QUV Models:
QUV/se
The most popular QUV model features the SOLAR EYE Irradiance Control for precise maintenance of UV light intensity. The QUV/se uses a proven condensation mechanism to simulate outdoor moisture attack. It allows faster, more reproducible testing, longer lamp life, and calibration according to international standards.
QUV/spray
The QUV/spray is the same as a standard QUV/se, but also includes a water spray system for enhanced water delivery. Short periods of spray can be used to create a thermal shock. Longer periods can be used to achieve mechanical erosion. The QUV/spray can be set to generate UV light, condensation, water spray, and even combinations of light and moisture.
QUV/cw
Some industries have test methods that specify using cool white lamps for indoor photostability testing. To reproduce indoor light conditions, the QUV/cw has a SOLAR EYE Irradiance Control system which has been modified to monitor and control the light output of cool white fluorescent lamps.
QUV/uvc
UV light is used widely in ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI), a technique used to eliminate harmful viruses and bacteria. This short-wavelength, high-energy UVC light can also degrade the materials and surfaces it disinfects. The QUV/uvc model uses UVC lamps to deliver light concentrated at 254 nm to test for material durability against photodegradation effects from UVC light exposure. The QUV/uvc tester has multiple safety features to prevent stray UVC light from escaping; it is also not equipped with condensation or water spray.
Q-Sun xenon test chambers are the ultimate research & development and quality control tool for testing materials that are exposed to direct sunlight, sunlight through window glass or indoor lighting. With a variety of models and options, you can customise your Q-Sun chamber to fit your testing needs. Three basic models suit the xenon testing needs of any lab: the tabletop Q-Sun Xe-1, the rotating rack Q-Sun Xe-2, and the large-capacity Q-Sun Xe-3.
Q-Sun xenon test chambers are the ultimate research & development and quality control tool for testing materials that are exposed to direct sunlight, sunlight through window glass or indoor lighting. With a variety of models and options, you can customise your Q-Sun chamber to fit your testing needs. Three basic models suit the xenon testing needs of any lab: the tabletop Q-Sun Xe-1, the rotating rack Q-Sun Xe-2, and the large-capacity Q-Sun Xe-3.
Sunlight, heat and moisture cause millions of dollars in product damage every year. Cracking, crazing, hazing, fading, and yellowing can occur indoors or outdoors. With Q-Sun xenon test chambers, you can simulate the damage caused by full-spectrum sunlight, temperature, and moisture. In just a few days or weeks, a Q-Sun tester can reproduce the damage that occurs over months or years outdoors.
Q-Sun test chambers are used by companies worldwide in dozens of different industries and applications to aid in the selection of new materials, the improvement of existing materials or the evaluation of how changes in formulation affect product durability.
Will your product last outdoors? Don’t guess when you can test!
The Q-Sun Xe-1 is an economical, single-lamp tabletop tester with multiple capabilities. The Xe-1 tests for lightfastness, colourfastness, and photostability.
The Q-Sun Xe-1 tester is the simplest, most reliable, and easiest to use xenon arc test chamber available. Its small scale is perfect for a lab with a limited budget or only an occasional need for testing.
The Q-Sun Xe-1 tester is a compact and affordable tabletop chamber designed for testing lightfastness, colour fastness, and photostability. It features a single xenon arc lamp that provides the best match to the full spectrum of natural sunlight. The tester can be equipped with optional features such as a water spray and chiller, allowing for the most realistic moisture simulation and low-temperature applications.
Installation of the Xe-1 tester is simple, and specimens can be easily mounted horizontally on its flat specimen tray. Q-Sun xenon arc test chambers use air-cooled xenon arc lamps to significantly reduce operating and maintenance expenses. Lamp life is guaranteed for most Q-Sun models for 3000 hours at normal irradiance and 1000 hours at
high irradiance.
A choice of optical filters is available to simulate a variety of service environments, including direct sunlight and sunlight through window glass. Q-Lab’s filter performance does not decline with age; therefore, filters do not need to be replaced under normal operation.
The SOLAR EYE irradiance control system constantly monitors and controls lamp output, ensuring precise light exposure and maximising the reproducibility of test results. Irradiance control is available at 340nm, 420nm or TUV (Total UV).
Control of temperature is crucial because it influences the rate of degradation. Specimen exposure temperature is precisely controlled in the Q-SUN Xe-1 tester using a black panel temperature sensor. The temperature can be set between 35ºC and 103ºC, depending on whether the sensor is insulated or uninsulated, irradiance level, filter type, lamp age and ambient room temperature. Black panel temperature control is standard on the Xe-1 tester, or you can substitute chamber air temperature control as an option.
With the Q-Sun Xe-1 tester, test specimens can be subjected to the equivalent of noon summer sunlight for 24 hours a day, every day, resulting in highly accelerated specimen degradation and faster test results. Even the smallest lab can now afford xenon arc testing thanks to the tester’s relatively low purchase price, low lamp prices and longer lifespans, and operating costs.
The Q-Sun Xe-1 tester is the simplest, most reliable, and easiest-to-use xenon arc test chamber available, providing fast and accurate results and featuring optional add-ons for even more realistic testing.
Models
Q-SUN Xe-1-B: full spectrum sunlight
Q-SUN Xe-1-SE: full spectrum sunlight, water spray, dual touchscreen display
Q-SUN Xe-1-BCE: full spectrum sunlight, chiller, and dual touchscreen display
Q-SUN Xe-1-SCE: full spectrum sunlight, water spray, chiller, and dual touchscreen display
Q-SUN Xe-1-WE: full spectrum sunlight, temperature-controlled water immersion, and dual touchscreen display.
The Q-Sun Xe-2 xenon tester offers a large-capacity rotating rack. It provides precise control of critical test parameters including spectrum, irradiance, relative humidity, chamber temperature and black panel/black standard temperature.
The versatile Q-Sun Xe-2 is often selected to perform weathering and lightfastness testing of textiles and is the successor model to the Q-SUN B02.
The Q-Sun Xe-2 tester is an exceptional rotating rack xenon arc chamber that is highly versatile, reliable, and user-friendly. It supersedes the Q-Sun B02 model and offers a full range of weathering, lightfastness, and photostability features at a breakthrough price. The Xe-2 features a central light source positioned vertically, with a filter system surrounding it. The test specimens are mounted facing the light on a drum that rotates around the central lamp like a carousel.
The tester precisely manages essential test parameters, such as spectrum, irradiance, relative humidity, chamber temperature, and black panel/black standard temperature, with the option to include front or back water spray. The Xe-2’s xenon arc lamp best reproduces full-spectrum sunlight and can match almost any global xenon test standard with the help of various optical filters.
The Q-Sun Xe-2 tester can accelerate test results by subjecting specimens to the equivalent of noon summer sunlight for 24 hours a day, every day. This means that specimen degradation can be highly accelerated, and outdoor damage that would take months or years to occur can be reproduced in just a few days or weeks. The tester’s full-spectrum xenon lamps are air-cooled, making them more cost-effective, efficient, and low maintenance than water-cooled lamps. The optical filter lanterns produce the spectra specified in many global weathering and lightfastness test standards and consist of an outer borosilicate or quartz glass cylinder and two sets of 7 inner filters arranged in a two-tier heptagon.
The SOLAR EYE Irradiance Control System constantly monitors and manages lamp output to ensure precise light exposure and maximise test result repeatability and reproducibility. Irradiance control is available at 340nm or 300-400nm TUV (Total UV). Relative humidity (RH) control is standard in the Q-SUN Xe-2 tester. It allows the user to simultaneously control and display RH, black panel temperature, and chamber air temperature. Note that purified water is required to properly operate the RH system in the Xe-2 tester.
Models
Q-SUN Xe-2-H: full-spectrum sunlight, rotating rack specimen holder, with humidity control
Q-SUN Xe-2-HS: full-spectrum sunlight, rotating rack specimen holder, with humidity control and water spray
Q-SUN Xe-2-HBS: full-spectrum sunlight, rotating rack specimen holder, with humidity control and water spray (front and back)
The Q-Sun Xe-3 is the simplest, most reliable, and easiest to use full-sized xenon arc chamber available. It utilizes three separate xenon lamps for a large capacity and the tester’s slide out specimen tray is useful for exposing large, three-dimensional parts or components.
The Xe-3 testers standard humidity control, near-horizontal specimen mounting and optional water spray provide the most realistic moisture simulation available in a xenon arc tester.
The Q-SUN Xe-3 tester’s slide-out specimen tray is 451mm x 718mm and is useful for exposing large, three-dimensional parts or components. Its xenon arc lamps provide the best match to the full spectrum of sunlight. Near-horizontal specimen mounting and optional water and back spray give the most realistic moisture simulation available in a xenon arc tester and an optional chiller for low-temperature applications.
A product exposed outdoors to direct sunlight experiences maximum light intensity for only a few hours each day. The Q-Sun Xe-3 chamber can subject test specimens to the equivalent of noon summer sunlight for 24 hours a day, every day. Consequently, specimen degradation can be highly accelerated.
The Q-SUN testers’ xenon arc lamps produce the most realistic reproduction of full-spectrum sunlight, including ultraviolet, visible light and infrared radiation. For many materials, exposure to the full spectrum is necessary to provide an accurate simulation, especially when testing for colour change and lightfastness. The Q-Sun test chambers use air-cooled xenon arc lamps to significantly reduce operating and maintenance expenses. Lamp life is guaranteed for most Q-Sun models for 3000 hours at normal irradiance and 1000 hours at high irradiance.
A choice of optical filters is available to simulate a variety of service environments, including direct sunlight and sunlight through window glass. Q-Lab’s filter performance does not decline with age; therefore, filters do not need to be replaced under normal operation.
Control of temperature is important because it influences the rate of degradation. Specimen exposure temperature is precisely controlled in the Q-Sun Xe-3 tester using a black panel temperature sensor. The temperature can be set at any point between 42ºC and 120ºC, depending upon whether the sensor is insulated or uninsulated, irradiance level, filter type, lamp age and ambient room temperature.
For some interior products, such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, lower exposure temperatures are necessary to prevent unnatural degradation. An optional chiller is available for the Xe-3 tester to lower temperatures when testing such heat-sensitive materials. With a chiller, a Q-SUN Xe-3 tester can operate at 31-120ºC and 50% RH, depending upon sensor type, irradiance level, filter type, lamp age, and ambient room temperature and humidity. The Xe-3 chiller is designed to stand alongside the full-sized Xe-3 tester and is provided with wheels for easy repositioning.
The SOLAR EYE irradiance control system constantly monitors and controls lamp output. This assures precise light exposure and maximises the reproducibility of test results. Irradiance control is available at 340nm, 420nm or TUV (Total UV).
Outdoor moisture attack is simulated via a pure water spray option in the Xe-3 tester. Two spray nozzles are located in the top of the chamber. Spray can be programmed to operate during either the dark or light cycle. Note that purified water is required for proper operation of the Xe-3 with water spray.
The Q-SUN Xe-3 is the only xenon arc tester that also has an optional dual spray capability. The dual spray feature allows a second liquid solution, such as acid rain or soap solution, to be sprayed onto test specimens. A large external reservoir, centrifugal pump and filter are attached to a portable cart that sits next to the Xe-3 tester.
Models
Q-SUN Xe-3-H: full-spectrum sunlight with humidity control
Q-SUN Xe-3-HSE: full-spectrum sunlight with humidity control, water spray, and dual touchscreen displays
Q-SUN Xe-3-HDSE: full-spectrum sunlight with humidity control, dual spray, and dual touchscreen displays
Q-SUN Xe-3-HBSE: full-spectrum sunlight with humidity control, water spray (front and back), and dual touchscreen displays
Q-SUN Xe-3-HCE: full-spectrum sunlight with humidity control, chiller, and dual touchscreen displays
Q-SUN Xe-3-HSCE: full-spectrum sunlight with humidity control, water spray, chiller, and dual touchscreen displays
Q-FOG-CRH
Cyclic corrosion testing provides the best possible laboratory simulation of natural atmospheric corrosion. Research indicates that test results are similar to the outdoors in structure, morphology, and relative corrosion rates.
The Q-Fog CRH advantages include the elimination of manually moving test specimens from one chamber to another and the laborious spraying of test specimens while reducing variability in results from excessive specimen handling.
The Q-FOG CRH cyclic corrosion testers are the simplest, most reliable, and easiest-to-use RH-controlled corrosion chambers available. These cyclic corrosion chambers can perform traditional salt spray, Prohesion, and nearly all cyclic automotive tests. This salt-fog tester features fully-adjustable relative humidity and precise control over ramp times.
Q-FOG CRH chambers are available in two sizes, 600L and 1100L, to fulfil a wide range of testing requirements. The Rapid Ramp Heater capability enables the performance of automotive corrosion tests that have very fast transition times.
The CRH tester features an advanced cleaning feature for spray nozzles that prevents the clogging frequently found in competitive chambers. Within one Q-FOG CRH chamber, it can cycle through the most significant corrosion environments. Even highly complex test cycles can easily be programmed with the Q-FOG controller.
The Q-FOG CRH can ramp to and maintain a defined RH value and temperature through an air preconditioner, an air control module, and special atomising humidification nozzles. Deionised (DI) water is required for proper operation.
The Shower Function in the Q-FOG CRH is used for some automotive test specifications. A user-adjustable volume of solution is uniformly sprayed onto specimens through specially positioned spray nozzles. The Shower Function offers the following advantages:
The Q-FOG CRH cyclic corrosion chamber has superior fog dispersion compared to conventional systems, which cannot vary volume and distance independently. A variable speed peristaltic pump controls the amount of corrosive solution delivered to the fog atomiser, while the air pressure regulator controls the distance of the “throw.” Note that purified water is required for the proper operation of Q-FOG corrosion testers.
Space utilisation is maximised, and maintenance is minimised with the Q-FOG tester’s internal solution reservoir. The 120L reservoir has enough capacity to run most tests for seven days or more. The reservoir has an integral salt filter and a built-in alarm to alert the operator when the solution is low. The integrated reservoir can optionally be connected to an external tank.
Q-FOG testers can change temperatures exceptionally fast because of their unique internal chamber heater and high volume cooling/dry-off blower. An additional air heater allows very low humidity dry-off exposures. Conventional chambers with water jackets cannot cycle rapidly because of the thermal mass of the water, nor can they produce low humidity.
If fast heating or dry-off conditions are required, as prescribed in test standards ISO 11997 and automotive CCT-type tests like JASO M609, the CRH model can be configured with Rapid Ramp Heaters. This Rapid Ramp Heater system enables quick temperature and relative humidity transition in a fully-loaded chamber in order to meet these demanding automotive test standards unconditionally.
The Q-FOG CRH tester’s chamber temperature and RH sensors should be calibrated by the user every six months to ensure accurate and consistent results. Calibrating the temperature and RH sensors takes only a few minutes. It requires simple tools, a calibrated reference thermometer, and an insulated container.
A built-in microprocessor controls test conditions, time, and temperature. A remarkably simple user interface featuring dual, full-colour touch screens allows for easy programming. The operator can quickly create new cycles or run any of the pre-programmed cycles. The Q-FOG controller includes complete self-diagnostics, including warning messages, routine service reminders, and safety shutdown.
Q-FOG CRH units come equipped with a viewing window on the side of the lid and an interior light to allow easy monitoring of the test conditions.
Q-FOG-SSP/CCT
Cyclic corrosion testing provides the best possible laboratory simulation of natural atmospheric corrosion. Research indicates that test results are similar to the outdoors in structure, morphology, and relative corrosion rates.
The Q-Fog CCT and SSP advantages include the elimination of manually moving test specimens from one chamber to another and the laborious spraying of test specimens while reducing variability in results from excessive specimen handling.
Before cyclic corrosion testing, conventional salt spray (a continuous salt spray at 35°C) was the standard way to simulate corrosion in a lab. Because traditional salt spray methods failed to mimic the outdoors’s natural wet/dry cycles, test results frequently correlated poorly to outdoors.
In a Q-FOG cyclic corrosion tester, specimens are exposed to different environments in a repetitive cycle that mimics the outdoors. Simple cycles like Prohesion may involve cycling between salt fog and dry conditions. More sophisticated automotive methods may call for multi-step cycles incorporating humidity or condensation, salt spray, and dry-off.
It can cycle through a series of the most significant corrosion environments within one Q-FOG chamber. Even highly complex test cycles can easily be programmed with the Q-FOG controller.
The Q-FOG SSP corrosion tester can perform numerous accelerated corrosion tests, including continuous salt spray (ASTM B117 and ISO 9227) and Prohesion (ASTM G85 Annex 5). The Prohesion test uses fast cycling, rapid temperature changes, a low humidity dry-off cycle and a different corrosive solution to provide a more realistic test. Many researchers have found this test valuable for industrial maintenance coatings. Continuous salt spray exposures are widely specified for testing components and coatings for corrosion resistance. Applications include plated and painted finishes, aerospace and military components, and electrical/electronic systems. Most of these tests are performed to particular specifications, such as ASTM B117 (Salt Spray) and BS 3900 F4.
These tests are widely used for comparative corrosion testing. They are typically run at an elevated temperature and do not incorporate a dry-off cycle. They require heated, humidified air for the spray.
The Q-FOG model CCT has all the advantages of the model SSP but adds the flexibility of including 100% humidity. Automotive corrosion test methods typically call for exposing specimens to a repetitive cycle of salt spray, high humidity, low humidity dry-off, and ambient conditions. These test methods were initially developed as labour-intensive manual procedures. The multi-functional Q-FOG CCT corrosion tester is designed to perform these cyclic tests automatically in a single chamber. Additionally, the CCT model can run Copper-Accelerated Acetic-Acid Salt Spray (CASS) tests such as ASTM B368 or ISO 9227 CASS.
The Q-FOG cyclic corrosion chamber has superior fog dispersion compared to conventional systems, which cannot vary volume and distance independently. A variable speed peristaltic pump controls the amount of corrosive solution delivered to the spray atomiser, while the air pressure regulator controls the distance of the “throw”.
Space utilisation is maximised, and maintenance is minimised with the Q-FOG tester’s internal solution reservoir. The 120L reservoir has enough capacity to run most tests for seven days or more. The reservoir has an integral salt filter and a built-in alarm to alert the operator when the solution is low.
Q-FOG testers can change temperatures exceptionally fast because of their unique internal chamber heater and high volume cooling/dry-off blower. An additional air heater allows very low humidity dry-off exposures. Conventional chambers with water jackets cannot cycle rapidly because of the thermal mass of the water, nor can they produce low humidity.
The Q-FOG test chamber is designed with easy specimen mounting and simple programming to cycle between four conditions: Fog, Dry-Off, 100% Humidity (Model CCT only), and Dwell. A built-in microprocessor controls test conditions, time, and temperature. A remarkably simple user interface featuring dual, full-colour touch screens allows for easy user programming and operation.
The QCT condensation tester simulates the damaging effects of outdoor moisture attack by condensing warm water directly onto test specimens. In a few days or weeks, the QCT tester can reproduce the damage due to moisture that occurs over months or years outdoors. The QCT tester is fast, easy to use and affordable. It uses 100% condensing humidity to simulate and accelerate damage caused by rain and dew on metals, paints, and organic materials.
This tester is commonly used in the automotive, building and construction, and other industries to test the durability and performance of materials exposed to moist and damp conditions. The tester creates a controlled environment for exposing materials to repeated cycles of condensation, simulating the natural conditions that can occur in real-world environments.
The QCT condensation tester uses 100% condensing humidity to simulate rain and dew and is based on the Cleveland Condensing Humidity Cabinet, originally designed by the Cleveland Society for Paint Technology.
The QCT tester conforms to several standards, including:
The QCT Condensation tester uses 100% condensing humidity to simulate and accelerate damage caused by dew on metals, paints, and organic materials. It accelerates natural exposures by increasing moisture temperature.
The user can program the QCT tester to create static, 100% condensing humidity or to cycle between hot condensation and an automatic dry-off system that blows heated air into the test chamber. A combination of wet and dry periods can be programmed using a 24-hour repeating timer, which can split the day into 96 increments of 15 minutes. The cycle options range from the subtle wetness of an almost invisible dew a few degrees above room temperature to a continuous, high-temperature, running condensate.
Featuring corrosion-resistant anodised aluminium construction with a glass-lined water pan with a magnesium anode for cathodic protection, the condensation tester has a sample capacity of 62 Panels at 75mm x 150mm or 48 panels at 100 x 150mm and has a temperature range capability from room temperature to 72°C.
The QCT tester requires only ordinary tap water. This is because the tap water becomes pure distilled water in the process of evaporation from the water pan and condensing onto the specimens. The tester has an automatic water feed that connects to a supply through 6mm plastic tubing, and water consumption is approximately 2 litres per day.
The tester’s innovative design utilises room air cooling to create a temperature differential across the thickness of the specimens. This temperature differential is a necessary element for condensation to occur. It is important to note that the QCT tester fundamentally differs from a typical humidity tester.
Freezing accelerates some failures. For a freeze/thaw cycle, panels can be manually removed from the QCT while wet and immediately frozen and then reinserted into the tester. The QCT tester is fast and versatile. It can be used to
Easy to use and simple to install, the QCT tester provides instant blister or corrosion testing – just plug it in and add water. The unit can be placed anywhere in your office, lab, or factory. The heat and water vapour produced by the QCT tester is about the same as that produced by one additional person in the room. Also, the test panels on a QCT unit may be inspected as often as you want without altering test conditions. Just remove the panel and put a blank in its place.