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Environmental Testing – Accelerated Ageing

Austest Solar/UV facilities (Sydney)
Xenon-arc test chamber layout (courtesy of Q-Lab)
Austest Q-Fog chamber (Sydney)
Salt-fog testing (photo courtesy of Q-Lab)

Accelerated ageing

Accelerated ageing involves exposure of the test item to aggravated conditions in order to speed up the normal aging processes of materials or components.

Accelerated ageing testing is usually carried out to provide:

  • An estimate of the expected life span of a product
  • A quantitative and qualitative comparison between different product, materials, coatings or manufacturing processes under controlled conditions
  • Determine long-term effects of expected levels of stress within a shorter timeframe

Testing encompasses a wide range of different stressors such as heat, humidity, pressure, oxygen, sunlight, vibration, corrosive substances, etc.

For details on our capabilities related to heat, humidity, pressure or mechanical testing please follow relevant links below:

In addition to these capacities Austest Laboratories also offers accelerated testing of metallic items through exposure to corrosive environments and non-metallic items through exposure to UV/Solar radiation (in combination with temperature and humidity). Our state-of-the art facilities feature:

  • Accelerated ageing facilities in NSW, VIC and SA
  • 4 x Xenon-arc solar radiation / weathering chambers
    • Testing of 3-dimensional samples
    • Accurate reproduction of the complete sunlight spectrum (possible only with Xenon-arc lamps)
    • Fully programmable control of irradiation, temperature, humidity and water spray functions
    • Diurnal cycle simulation
    • Range of filters available (e.g. indoor, window, etc.)
    • Compliant with a huge range of IEC, ASTM, ISO, SAE and other standards (see full listing below), including defence specifications MIL-STD-810G and DEF STAN 00-35
    • Testing of large volume items (up to 1.5 m3 – unique in Aust.)
  • 3 x Narrow-band UV chambers
    • UV-A and UV-B
    • Cost-effective solution for 2D samples
  • 6 x Salt-fog / salt-spray test chambers
    • Programmable control of salt-spray rate, temperature and humidity
    • Compliant with a wide range of standards such as IEC60068-2-52, ASTM B117, MIL-STD-810G etc.
    • Testing of large-size products (up to 5 m3) available
  • Comprehensive range of post-testing evaluations including
    • Tensile
    • Compressive
    • Bending
    • Impact
    • Elongation
    • Fading
    • Colour change

Austest’s Accelerated Ageing Process

Solar / UV Radiation standards:

  • MIL-STD-810D, E, F, G, and G with Change 1
  • IEC 60068-2-5
  • ISO 4892-2
  • ISO 11341
  • ISO 105-B02
  • ISO 105-B04
  • ASTM D4459-12
  • ASTM D1248-12
  • ASTM D2565-99 (2008)
  • ASTM D4434 / D4434M
  • ASTM D4798 / D4798M
  • ASTM D4799 / D4799M
  • ASTM D6695-08
  • ASTM C1257-06a
  • ASTM C1442-14
  • ASTM C1501-14
  • ASTM C1519-10
  • ASTM C732-06
  • ASTM C734-06
  • ASTM C793-05
  • ASTM D1148-13
  • ASTM D3424-11
  • ASTM D3451-06
  • ASTM D4329-13
  • ASTM D4587-11
  • ASTM D4674-02
  • ASTM D5208-14;
  • ASTM D5894-10;
  • ASTM D6577-06
  • ASTM D750-12
  • ASTM D904-99
  • ASTM D925-14
  • ASTM F1945-05
  • ASTM G151-10
  • ASTM G154-12a
  • ASTM G155-13
  • DEF STAN 00-035, Part 3,
  • ISO 4892-3
  • ISO 15003
  • EN 50125-3
  • ASTM G53

Salt-fog/spray standards:

  • AS/NZS/IEC/EN 60068-2-52
  • ASTM B117 Salt Spray
  • RTCA DO-160G
  • IEC 60068-2-11
  • IEC/EN 50155
  • MIL-STD-810D, E, F, G, and G with Change 1:
  • DEF STAN 00-35
  • DEF(AUST)5681
  • ISO 20653
  • SAE-J1455
  • IEC 60068-2-18
  • EN 50125-3
  • MIL-STD-202G
  • ASTM D951

Not sure if we test your product? Just ask

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