Accelerated Weathering Chamber Packaging
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Future-Proof Your Products: Advanced Accelerated Weathering Solutions for Maximum Reliability
Flexitest’s UV and Xenon-based accelerated weathering chambers replicate the damaging effects of the UV spectrum, critical for testing the durability of plastics, polymers, and packaging materials. Ensure your products meet industry standards and perform under extended UV exposure with our advanced simulation technology.
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Accelerated Weathering Chamber Solutions
Which Xenon Aging Chambers is right For You?
| Technical Specifications | SX/1000 Benchtop Xenon Test Chamber |
SX/1000/H Small Xenon Test Chamber |
SX/2800/H Xenon Test Chamber |
SX/2200/H Xenon Test Chamber |
SX/6500/H Large Xenon Test Chamber |
STX/1000/H Xenon Test Chamber |
SWTX/3600/H Walk-in Xenon Test Chamber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light Tube | 1 x 1.8KW air-cooled xenon lamp (imported from USA or domestic optional) | 1 x 1.8KW air-cooled xenon lamp (imported from USA or domestic optional) | 3 x 1.8KW air-cooled xenon lamps (imported from America) | 1 x 1.8KW air-cooled xenon lamp (imported from America) | 1 x 6.5KW water-cooled xenon lamp (imported from America) | 3 x 1.8KW air-cooled xenon lamps | 6 x 1.8KW air-cooled xenon lamps |
| Standard Filter | UV Extension Filter | UV Extension Filter | Daylight Filter | Daylight Filter | Daylight Filter | Daylight Filter | Daylight Filter |
| Exposure Standard Sample (150×70mm) | 09 | 09 | 25 | 22 | 65 | — | — |
| Programming Cycle | 09 | UV Extension Filter | UV Extension Filter | UV Extension Filter | UV Extension Filter | — | — |
| Spray Function | ✔ | Exist (Front of Test Panel) | Exist (Front of Test Panel) | Exist (Front of Test Panel) | Exist (Front of Test Panel) | — | — |
| Dark Function | ✔ | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Black Panel Temperature (BPT) Automatic Control | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Black Panel Temperature Setting Range | +30°C–90°C | +30°C–90°C | +20°C–90°C | +30°C–100°C | +20°C–110°C | +20°C–110°C | +20°C–110°C |
| Irradiance Automatic Control | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Irradiance Setting Range (340nm) | 0.3–0.8 W/m² (Domestic) 0.3–0.8 W/m² (Imported) |
0.3–0.8 W/m² | 0.3–0.75 W/m² | 0.3–0.75 W/m² | 0.3–0.75 W/m² | 0.3–0.75 W/m² | 0.3–0.75 W/m² |
| Irradiance Control Point | 01 | 03 | 04 | 04 | 04 | Multiple | Multiple |
| Monitoring Cumulative Energy of Irradiation | ✔ | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Operation Room Relative Humidity Automatic Control | ✔ | ✔ | — | — | — | — | — |
| Test Data Download Function | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Alarm Function | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Calibration Function | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pure Water System | ✔ | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional |
UV Test Chamber Specification
| Model | SB/UV/A |
|---|---|
| Light Source | 3 sticks, 20W |
| Wavelength | 313nm (or 340nm) |
| Lamp Rated Life | 1000h |
| Lamp Irradiation Energy | 0.7 W/m² |
| Test Time Setting Range | 1h ~ 99,999h |
| Spray Time Setting Range | 1min ~ 99,999min |
| Spray Interval Time Setting Range | 1min ~ 99,999min |
| Closest Distance from Tube Wall to Sample | 50 mm |
| Sample Turret Speed | 3.7 c.p.m |
| Water Consumption | 4L/minute (spray water); 7L/day (water for condensation) |
| Test Sample Size Required | 150mm × 70mm (18 standard samples can be exposed at one time) |
| Model | ST/UV/A |
|---|---|
| Light Source | UV-A (wavelength 340nm) or UV-B (wavelength 313nm) 40W × 8 |
| Lamp Rated Life | Normal Service Life 6000 hours |
| Irradiance Setting Range | 0.3 W/m² ~ 1.55 W/m² |
| Black Panel Temperature Setting Range | Chamber Temperature +10°C ~ 80°C |
| Maximum Rated Power | 2 KW |
| Internal / External Shell Material | All stainless steel plate 304 / all stainless steel material surface spray, never rust |
| Exposure Area | 5175 cm² / 828 in² |
| Standard Template | 24 standard sample racks (48 pieces of 150×70mm templates can be put in at one time) |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions – Accelerated Weathering Chamber
What is an accelerated weathering chamber and why is it used for packaging testing?
An accelerated weathering chamber simulates the damaging effects of sunlight, UV radiation, heat, moisture, and condensation on packaging materials in a controlled laboratory environment. It replicates years of outdoor exposure in hours or days, allowing manufacturers to evaluate colour stability, mechanical strength retention, and barrier property degradation of packaging films, laminates, and containers per ASTM G154 and ISO 4892-3 before product launch.
What is ASTM G154 and how does it apply to packaging material testing?
ASTM G154 is an internationally recognised standard practice for exposing materials to UV light using fluorescent lamps. The test simulates outdoor conditions including damaging UV energy, elevated temperatures, and high time of wetness from outdoor moisture. For packaging, it evaluates UV-induced degradation of flexible films, printed laminates, labels, and rigid containers — helping manufacturers predict real-world colour fading, embrittlement, and barrier property loss before committing to full production.
What is ISO 4892-3 and how does it relate to ASTM G154 for packaging testing?
ISO 4892-3:2024 specifies methods for exposing plastic specimens to fluorescent UV lamp radiation, heat, and water in apparatus designed to simulate the weathering effects that occur when plastic materials are exposed in actual end-use environments to global solar radiation or to window-glass filtered solar radiation. ASTM G154 is technically similar to ISO 4892-3. ISO 4892-3 is the internationally preferred standard for packaging plastics in European and global markets, while ASTM G154 is widely used in North American supply chains.
What is the difference between fluorescent UV lamp testing and xenon arc lamp testing for packaging?
Fluorescent UV lamp testing per ASTM G154 and ISO 4892-3 uses UVA or UVB lamps to simulate the short-wavelength UV portion of sunlight — faster and more economical, ideal for quality control of packaging films and labels. Xenon arc lamp testing per ISO 4892-2 uses xenon arc lamps to replicate the full sunlight spectrum including UV, visible, and infrared radiation — providing more realistic simulation for outdoor packaging applications, premium print substrates, and photo-sensitive packaging materials.
What is ASTM D4329 and when is it used instead of ASTM G154 for packaging plastics?
ASTM D4329 is specifically tailored to plastics and guides UV exposure testing procedures using fluorescent UV lamps, essential for manufacturers aiming to understand the durability of plastic products and components under UV radiation. While ASTM G154 applies broadly to all nonmetallic materials, ASTM D4329 is used specifically for plastic packaging including HDPE bottles, PP containers, PET films, and flexible pouches when plastic-specific UV exposure cycles and evaluation criteria are required by buyers or regulatory specifications.
What types of UV lamps are used in accelerated weathering chambers for packaging testing?
Two types of fluorescent UV lamps are defined in ASTM G154: UVA-340 lamps most closely represent the shortwave UV portion of noon summer sunlight and are the most commonly used for outdoor packaging simulation. UVB-313 lamps emit shorter wavelengths for accelerated stress testing to quickly identify material weaknesses. UVA-351 lamps simulate sunlight filtered through window glass, suitable for retail shelf packaging exposed to indoor fluorescent and window lighting conditions.
What packaging material properties are evaluated after accelerated weathering testing?
After accelerated weathering per ASTM G154 and ISO 4892-3, the following properties are evaluated on packaging materials: colour change and fading (Delta E values), gloss retention, haze increase, tensile strength and elongation retention, seal strength of laminates and pouches, print adhesion and legibility, surface cracking or chalking, and oxygen transmission rate (OTR) changes. These results help manufacturers validate shelf life claims and ensure packaging integrity across the entire supply chain and storage period.
Which packaging industries in India use accelerated weathering chambers?
Accelerated weathering chambers are used across flexible packaging (BOPP, polyester, laminate films for food and FMCG), pharmaceutical packaging (blister films, labels, cartons), agricultural packaging (fertiliser bags, pesticide pouches, woven sacks exposed to outdoor storage), cosmetic and personal care packaging (outdoor display and transit packaging), and e-commerce packaging (corrugated boxes and mailer films). Per ASTM G154 and ISO 4892-3, weathering testing supports export compliance, material qualification, and supplier approval processes across all these industries.
Can accelerated weathering chambers test printed packaging and labels?
Yes. Accelerated weathering chambers are widely used to evaluate UV stability of inks, varnishes, and adhesive laminations on printed packaging and labels per ASTM G154 and ISO 4892-3. Testing assesses colour fastness, print adhesion, and varnish integrity after defined UV exposure cycles. This is critical for brand owners who require consistent colour accuracy on retail shelf packaging and labels that are exposed to sunlight during transport, outdoor display, or long-term warehousing.
How should an accelerated weathering chamber be calibrated and maintained for reliable results?
Accelerated weathering chambers must be calibrated per ASTM G154 and ISO 4892-3 using certified calibration radiometers to verify UV irradiance levels at the specimen plane. UV lamp intensity degrades over time — lamps must be replaced or rotated at intervals specified by the manufacturer to maintain consistent exposure conditions. Temperature, humidity, and condensation cycle parameters must be verified before each test run. All calibration records must be maintained per ISO 17025 laboratory competence requirements for audit traceability.