ASTM G155 Testing Lab
Nearly every industry manufactures products that will be used outdoors. Automobiles, siding and roofing materials, outdoor furniture and playground equipment spend a significant amount of time weathering the elements and withstanding the sun's harsh rays.
Before you can design and manufacture these products, you need to be sure the materials you use will endure the test of time and wear.
The ASTM G155 xenon arc weathering test was created to help you determine how your materials will react to weathering so that you can move forward in your design or adjust your products as needed.
But for the process to be effective, you must work with a lab that knows how to control every factor of the test to give you the most accurate results possible.
VTEC Laboratories offers this expertise. We've become a leader in weathering testing over our more than 30 years of business, and we draw from this expertise in everything we do.
VTEC Laboratories for Your ASTM G155 Testing Needs
VTEC Labs is the partner you need for all your testing service applications. Our reputation for excellence stems largely from the numerous benefits we offer our customers, including:
- Quick turnaround times: We provide accurate test results within two weeks of your test's completion — the fastest turnaround time in the industry — so that you can proceed with your project research and design. If your tight timeline requires results in fewer than two weeks, we'll complete your xenon arc exposure test even sooner.
- Extensive testing capabilities: Whatever testing you might need for your products, you'll find solutions with VTEC Labs. We offer a range of ASTM testing services, like ASTM G155, as well as custom test capabilities that we can design to your industry-specific specifications.
- Industry-leading expertise: For more than three decades, VTEC Labs has provided businesses worldwide with commercial and industrial product test services. We use the knowledge and experiences we've gathered during this time to give you the ideal solution for your unique situations.
What Is Xenon Arc Weathering Testing?
ASTM G155 outlines best practices for xenon arc accelerated weathering testing, which is a weathering test best performed on non-metallic materials built for outdoor, bright-light uses.
It is similar to ASTM G154 — another popular type of weathering test. However, while the G154 test uses fluorescent lights to simulate outdoor weather conditions, the G155 test uses xenon arc lamps.
Xenon arc lamps pass electricity through ionized xenon gas to produce light, and they're known for their ability to mimic the full effects of natural sunshine.
Because xenon arc lamps simulate a broader portion of natural sunlight, ASTM G155 is often the preferred choice when a project requires full-spectrum solar simulation for outdoor-use materials.
The G155 standard doesn't specify any one way for a material to be tested. However, the xenon arc exposure process typically involves cycling through light and moisture cycles repeatedly in a controlled artificial environment.
Xenon Arc Weathering Test Applications
Engineers typically use ASTM G155 when they need a full-spectrum solar simulation weathering test to evaluate the long-term stability of materials exposed to outdoor environments. Common applications include:
- Exterior Plastics: Assessing the polymer weathering performance for polymers used in utility infrastructure and outdoor equipment.
- Coatings and Finishes: UV degradation testing to validate the protective integrity of industrial paints and powder coatings against UV degradation.
- Construction Materials: Testing the environmental resistance of siding, roofing, and structural membranes.
- Automotive Components: Simulating the extreme solar loads experienced by both interior trim and exterior body parts.
- Signage and Textiles: Measuring the lightfastness of dyes and the structural retention of synthetic fibers.
Typical Samples Tested
For ASTM G155, the common samples our clients submit include plastic housings, painted metal panels, polymer composites, sealants, and membranes. Our clients also send finished components, coated assemblies, and material coupons for comparison testing or qualification work.
Need a specific exposure cycle or custom rack configuration? Contact our engineering team for a detailed quote within 24 hours.
Performance Metrics Evaluated
Here are some of the results that our clients will typically measure in the ASTM G155 xenon arc weathering test.
Color Shift and Fading
This measures how much a material’s appearance degrades after environmental exposure. We use artificial weathering xenon lamps to simulate the full solar spectrum so as to get an objective, quantitative value for visual stability.
It’s also quite useful in coating durability testing, which validates that pigments and coatings meet longevity specifications before the materials can be mass-produced.
Cracking or Surface Degradation
Crazing, embrittlement, chalking, erosion, blistering or other surface failures that can indicate that the material is losing durability under combined light, heat, and moisture exposure are what we measure here.
The purpose of it is to identify when a material’s protective barrier of structural integrity is compromised. Here, ASTM G155 ensures that the components in these products remain safe and durable.
Tensile Strength Changes
The changes measure whether environmental exposure compromises a material’s structural reliability and mechanical performance. It goes beyond the surface aesthetics and looks at the internal degradation that could lead to serious problems, which is why it is so important, especially in load-bearing outdoor applications.
Gloss Retention
Gloss retention measures how well a surface maintains its original finish during exposure. Because gloss loss often reveals surface erosion or microscopic damage before obvious failure appears, it is a great indicator of degradation in high-performance coatings and engineering thermoplastics.
Testing Deliverables
Upon completion of the ASTM G155 xenon arc weathering test program, clients receive a comprehensive technical report that meets the standards required for regulatory filing or internal R&D validations. This includes:
- Exposure Duration: Detailed logs of total irradiance and specific light/moisture cycle parameters.
- Performance Data: Tabulated results of all physical testing and metric evaluations.
- Photographic Documentation: High-resolution visual evidence of the specimen at predetermined intervals throughout the test duration.
- Durability Analysis: Professional assessment of material performance relative to the specified ASTM standards.
Request Your ASTM G155 Consultation With VTEC Labs
VTEC Laboratories has the experience and extensive capabilities necessary to meet your full range of testing needs.
We work with numerous industries to provide comprehensive services for various specifications, budgets and timelines. Contact us online or at 718-542-8248 to learn more or to request your free quote.
Recommended Tests to Pair with ASTM G155:
- ASTM B117 - Salt Fog Testing
- ASTM G154 - UV Lamp Test for Nonmetallic Materials Exposure
- ASTM D1149 - Rubber Deterioration Test
- ASTM G21 - Fungal Defacement Test
Learn More About VTEC Labs Services
At VTEC Laboratories, our role as a multi-functional company stems from our more than three decades of experience. Due to our extensive expertise in multiple industries, we provide comprehensive services that meet each field’s unique standards, needs and objectives.
Learn more about our services by contacting us online or calling us at (718) 542-8248.