We are pleased to offer our customers a free electronic copy of ASTM D7869 "Standard Practice for Xenon Arc Exposure Test with Enhanced Light and Water Exposure for Transportation Coatings".

This standard has been called “the most extensive aging test procedure ever developed”.

ASTM D7869 represents several important advances in the field of light and weather aging testing, including providing a method to ensure minimal water distribution to samples (sponge test) and clearly defining the requirements. for repositioning samples in all types of xenon arc test chambers.

Q-Lab purchased a set of digital copies of ASTM D7869, Xenon Arc Exposure Test with Enhanced Light and Water Exposure for Transport Coatings. Our goal is to help users around the world adopt the standard faster.

To get your free copy of this important new standard, please click on the following link to complete the order form for a free copy of ASTM D7869.

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Meaning and use

5.1 This test procedure is used to simulate the physical and environmental stresses to which a coating for exterior transportation applications (eg, automotive) is exposed in a subtropical climate, such as South Florida. It has been found that such a subtropical climate causes particularly severe deterioration of such coatings. The long exposures to water and the wet / dry cycle of South Florida are particularly important for this deterioration, in addition to the high dose of solar radiation (3). This practice was developed to address the shortcomings of historical tests used for transport coatings, especially automotive coatings (4).

NOTE 1: This test procedure was developed over eight years of cooperative testing between automotive and aerospace OEMs, material suppliers, and test equipment manufacturers. See references for articles published on this research.

1. Scope

1.1 This method specifies the procedures for an irradiance-controlled xenon arc light and water apparatus. The procedure uses one or more lamp (s) and optical filter (s) to produce an irradiance similar to sunlight in the UV and visible range. It also simulates water absorption and stress cycles experienced by automotive exterior coatings under natural climatic conditions. This practice has also been shown to apply to coatings on other transport vehicles, such as airplanes, trucks and rail cars.

1.2 This practice uses a xenon arc light source with specified optical filters. The spectral power distribution (SPD) for the lamp and special daylight filter (s) is as specified in Annex A1. The level of irradiance used in this practice varies between 0.40 and 0.80 W / (m 2 · nm) at 340 nm. Water is sprayed on the samples during dark multi-step portions. The application of water is such that the coatings will absorb and desorb substantial amounts of water during the test. In addition, the cycle between wet / dry and hot / cold will induce mechanical stresses in the materials. These test conditions are designed to simulate the physical and chemical stresses of subtropical climate environments, such as South Florida.