Material Testing Product and Technology News Volume 40 ® Issue 86 SunSpots Spring 2010 Innovation in the Analysis of Weathering-Induced Color Changes in Plastics Atlas collaborates with Underwriters Laboratories By Thomas Kilian, Dr. Kurt Engelsing, Dr. Peter Heidemeyer, to advance testing for and Dr. Martin Bastian, Süddeutsches Kunststoff-Zentrum (SKZ), solar industry. Würzburg, Germany Page 13 Abstract Developing formulations for colored plastic products often requires color stability tests involving lengthy outdoor weathering. Currently, the only method for reducing this outdoor weathering time is accelerated artificial weathering. With the goal of saving even more time, a new color measurement system (Catscope, ERT- Optik GmbH) was investigated in this research project. The Catscope was developed for investigating weathering- In This Issue induced color changes in paint systems. With paint samples, color changes can be accurately measured after a short exposure time and then extrapolated for longer weathering times. The purpose 11 of this study was to investigate the suitability of Catscope for the measurement of weathering-induced color changes in plastics. After Affordable SEPAP Serves verifying the reproducibility of Catscope measurements for plastics, Multiple Industries the results were correlated with a conventional spectrophotometer measurement. In addition, some new extrapolation functions were tested in order to adjust the prediction for plastic parts. 11 Experimental New Xenotest® 220/220+ Sample Preparation Unveiled To investigate weathering-induced color changes in colored plastics, test plates were produced by injection molding using a Battenfeld TM 1300/525+130 machine with a two-cavity mold for 12 test plates with different surface structures (polished, brushed Atlas’ Launches Program to finish and two different spark erosion structures). The test plates Test PV Module Durability have dimensions of 100 x 60 x 4 mm and two different surface structures on each. The different plastic/colorant combinations used for the test samples are shown in Table 1. 15 Remote Monitoring Continued on page 4 Easy with UView D U SERV T T UME TO E C G IC EN O R NT NT IN A E G T S E N T T IN S M S O T R M N G V I R I N G O T I E A R I E O R M W H T I O O T M N I T T M U O L U S A M H • O N P P E E C O • C T A • • • C • W A A • A • A T • • T T S T S S T S S L L L L L A A A A A SunSpots T E IMEN • S P • S H R S R TE S E S O A T E R A A A L P ’ L W S L K O C X T E E T S T S S A O N A R • O E T S L H E B T A O R A L X E • T • A Photovoltaic Hightex 2010 W 25th EU PVSEC K-Show 2010 Technology Istanbul, Turkey Valencia, Spain Düsseldorf, Learn about the latest 2010 Show 2010 May 15–18 September 6–9 Germany weathering developments Europe October 27– and how Atlas® can help Stuttgart, Germany ITMA ASIA 2010 Indiapack 2010 November 3 advance your testing April 27–29 Shanghai, China Mumbai, India program. Visit our booth June 22–26 September 30– Vietnam at these shows, and one Control 2010 October 3 Hanoi Textile of our representatives Stuttgart, Germany & Garment will be happy to talk with Asia Pacific May 4–7 Industry Expo you about your testing Coatings Show Solar Power Hanoi, Vietnam goals and needs. Jakarta, Indonesia International November 10–12 PV Expo 2010 June 23–24 Show For the latest on Shanghai, China Los Angeles, Atlas shows and May 5–7 California, USA Eurocoat pre sen ta tions, visit October 12–14 Genoa, Italy www.atlas-mts.com. November 9–11 IN MEMORIAM Industry Loses Two Leaders Patrick J. Brennan, Vice President of Q-Lab Corporation, Westlake, Ohio, died September 20, 2009, at age 60. During his 30-year Q-Lab career, he became established as a true expert in the field of accelerated weathering and lightfastness. He was an active member of ASTM, ISO, and AATCC standards organizations. An ASTM member since 1986, Brennan participated in numerous committees and more than 50 subcommittees. He served as the D20.50 (Durability of Plastics) Subcommittee chairman from 1991–2006, and was honored with the D20 Award of Appreciation in 2000 and the G03 (Weathering and Durability) Committee Chairman of the Year Award in 2001. He was an active member of AATCC for 23 years, participating in several research committees. Former chair of the Weather Resistance Test Methods and the Colorfastness to Light Test Methods committees, he also served as the U.S. expert for the ISO light stability and weathering committee. He served on ISO TC38 for textiles and ISO TC61 for plastics from 1992–2005. Brennan published numerous technical papers on weathering and lightfastness and taught audiences around the world. His contributions to the science of weathering and light stability have been immeasurable. Warren D. Ketola, a longtime member and driving force within ASTM International, died on December 3, 2009, at age 61. Known as the pre-eminent North American “standards guy,” Ketola was active in ISO, AATCC, and especially ASTM, where he had been a significant influence since 1982. In a measure of his dedication to the standards process, Ketola was writing an ASTM ballot negative only a few days before he died. Ketola brought years of expertise in weathering plus a healthy dash of humor to every committee and meeting in which he participated. In ASTM alone, he served in Committees C24, D01, D04, D08, D20, D35, E06 as well as G03, where he presided for many terms as chairman. His many ASTM awards and honors included the D 20 Committee on Plastics Award of Appreciation; the Award of Merit for work on the G3, D1, and D20 Committees; the D20 Committee on Plastics Recognition Award; and the G 3 Committee on Weathering and Durability Task Group Chairman of the Year Award. Ketola retired from 3M Company in 2008 as a division scientist and co-founder of the 3M Weathering Resource Center. He was instrumental in the development of the basic technology for the 3M Post-It™ Note. Ketola was a dedicated and internationally known expert whose technical contributions significantly advanced the science of weathering. He worked closely with many at Atlas who valued and respected his contributions. He will be missed. 2 Spring 2010 D U SERV T T UME TO E C G IC EN O R NT NT IN A E G T S E N T T IN S M S O T R M N G V I R I N G O T I E A R I E O R M W H T I O O T M N I T T M U O L U S A M H • O N P P E E C O • C T A • • • C • W A A • A • A T • • T T S T S S T S S L L L L L A A A A A Atlas Client Education helps clients learn to design durability test programs to understand how weathering affects materials. Our education and training solutions will help you and your staff effectively master the skills and knowledge needed to develop long-lived products in shortened development cycles. Our programs are designed for all 2010 levels to ensure that everyone develops the skills required to understand the fundamentals of weathering and how to operate our instruments. For the latest schedules and locations, check the Atlas website, www.atlas-mts.com, or e-mail [email protected]. R T E IMENT • S P • S H A S R E S E A S O T E R A FundamentalsA of April 7, June 23, AprilL 13 • May 4P • ’ May 19 • June 8 • L W S L K O C X T E E T S T S S Weathering I September 29 • Kolding, Denmark Vienna, Austria Paris, France Frankfurt, Germany A O N A R • O E T S L Chicago, Illinois, USA Presented in English PresentedH in German Presented in French Presented in German E B T A O R A L X E • T • A Presented in English W Fundamentals of April 8, June 24, April 14 • May 5 • May 20 • June 9 • Weathering II September 30 • Kolding, Denmark Vienna, Austria Paris, France Frankfurt, Germany Chicago, Illinois, USA Presented in English Presented in German Presented in French Presented in German Presented in English Xenotest® Workshop March 17–18 • Linsengericht, Germany • Presented in German SUNTEST® Workshop May 11 • Linsengericht, Germany • Presented in German Weather-Ometer® March 30–31 • Linsengericht, Germany April 6, June 22, September 28 • Chicago, Illinois, USA Workshops Presented in English Presented in English Case Studies Now Available on Atlas Website ight- and weatherfastness testing of materials, components, and finished products is essential for fulfilling product L warranty claims, meeting rigorous industry standards, and staying one step ahead of the competition. To understand the full picture and ensure quality throughout their entire process, companies rely on Atlas’ Network of Weathering® beginning with proper design of experiment and incorporating material screening, accelerated laboratory testing, outdoor weathering testing, and independent laboratory validation. Even though your product or material formulation may be unique, the methodology behind the proper testing may not. That’s why Atlas offers case studies on a range of topics: D U SERV T T UME TO E C G IC EN O R NT NT IN A E G T S E N T • FirefighterT turnoutIN gear S • CMar tires S • Styrenic thermoplasticO elastomers T R M N G V I R I N G O T I E A R I E O R Window and seal profiles • Artificial grassW yarn • Realistic Food & Drink Testing Study • M H T I O O T M N I T T M U O L U S A M H • O N P P • PET bottles • Agricultural films E E C O • C T A • • • C • W A A • A • A T • • T T S T S S T S S L L L L L A A A A A These case studies can easily be downloaded at www.atlas-mts.com.