Weathering Service Facility - Brief Article

Automotive Finishing,  Spring, 2001  

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The company's Weathering Research Service facility houses both an outdoor exposure testing site as well as an indoor, accelerated testing lab. Customers can opt for real-time outdoor durability testing that will simulate either the exterior or the interior environment of an automobile. Exterior materials can be exposed on a Black Box, which imitates the severe conditions found on the trunk or hood of a car. In this test method, specimens are subjected to both higher temperatures and longer periods of wetness. Black Boxes are typically tilted at 5 degrees (from the horizontal) and simulate a horizontal surface on a car.

Interior products can be tested through AIM (Automotive Interior Materials) Box exposure. AIM Boxes imitate the environment inside an automobile, under glass. This is ideal for customers who are interested in testing materials that will be used inside a car in those areas where glass acts as a sunlight filter. AIM Boxes are also large enough to hold 3-dimensional car parts such as entire dashboards and instrument panels.

Customers in the automotive industry also have a number of options for accelerated laboratory testing. For weather testing, the company uses devices such as the Q--Sun Xenon Arc Tester and the QUV Accelerated Weathering Tester. For corrosion testing, the Q--Fog cyclic salt spray device is used. Also available is the Multi-Test Gravelometer, which tests for resistance to roadway gravel chipping.

COPYRIGHT 2001 Gardner Publications, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group