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Benefits of time interval inspections upon doing accelerated aging

Doing inspections on samples undergoing any accelerated aging test (such as UV tests, corrosion test, etc.,) at strategically placed time intervals can save you a lot of time and money.  Indeed, despite the term “accelerated”, aging takes time.

Therefore if you are trying to assess how a given material will perform in five or ten years, you are more than likely looking at weeks, probably months, of testing.  Should your product not perform as expected upon test completion, assuming no inspections were done at various time intervals,  you will have lost both time and money.  Many non-invasive measurements can be done while your samples are undergoing the aging test you asked for.

Advantages of time interval inspections

The main two advantages these measurements give you are as follows:

  1. Poor product performance, if this happens, can be readily identified and testing can be stopped prematurely thus saving you time and money.
  2. Interval measurements can be plotted as a function of time.  This gives you a very good assessment of whether your product is border line acceptable or if it behaves really well.

In the latter case this allows you, within reason, to extrapolate beyond the real time duration your product was tested for therefore providing you with additional, albeit non quantifiable, information.

Common measurements

Common measurements done at various time intervals upon doing accelerated aging include:

  • ASTM G154 (Uses fluorescent light sources that can simulate UVA or UVB)
  • ASTM G155 (Cyclic Salt Fog/UV Exposure of Painted Metal test)
  • ASTM B117 (Salt spray test)
  • ASTM D5894 (Cyclic Salt Fog/UV Exposure of Painted Metal)
  • Visual examination
  • Digital photographs
  • ASTM D523 (Specular Gloss): measures how glossy a surface is
  • ASTM D2240 (Durometer Hardness): measures surface hardness
  • ASTM D2244 (Color Measurement (Delta E))
  • ASTM D2616 (Evaluation of Visual Color Difference with a Gray Scale)
  • ASTM D3359 (Measuring Adhesion by Tape Test) Coating adhesion)
  • ASTM D3363 (Film hardness by Pencil Test)
  • ASTM D610 (Degree of Rusting)
  • ASTM D714 (Degree of Blistering)
  • Computerized data acquisition ongoing monitoring

Learn more about our material testing as well as specific UV testing and corrosion testing services. Contact us today for more information.

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Michel Comtois

Michel Comtois

Michel Comtois is an accomplished founder and CEO of Micom Laboratories Inc., an ISO/IEC 17025 (2017) A2LA-accredited independent laboratory specializing in product and material testing services. Before establishing Micom Laboratories in 1999, Michel, who also holds a Master’s degree in Physical Chemistry, gained extensive experience over a 14-year tenure managing departments spanning physical chemistry, physics, mechanical and material testing in research and contract laboratories. This exposure granted him a profound understanding of the intricacies of development and material testing processes.

In addition to his practical experience, Michel has played influential roles on various voluntary technical committees. He notably, served as the chairperson for CAN/CGSB 44.227 and the Head of the Canadian Delegation for ISO TC 136. He also contributed to the following technical committees: CAN/CGSB 44.229, CAN/CGSB 44.232, ANSI/BIFMA X5.1, ANSI/BIFMA X5.5, ANSI/BIFMA X5.6, ANSI/BIFMA X 5.9 ANSI/BIFMA X5.11, ISTA Certification Council.

Leveraging his unique expertise, he has led Micom Laboratories to become a renowned name in its niche, now operating out of a 16,000-square-foot test facility in Montreal, Canada, and serving a diverse customer base with an array of material and product testing services. Follow Michel on LinkedIn

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