QLAB – UV LAMPS AND OPTICAL FILTERS

UV light is responsible for almost all photodegradation of durable materials exposed outdoors. The QUV tester’s fluorescent lamps simulate the critical short-wave UV spectrum and reproduce the physical property caused by sunlight. Several different types of UV lamps are available for different applications, and optical filters are not required. The Q-SUN family of xenon-arc testers uses xenon-arc lamps to produce the most realistic reproduction of full spectrum sunlight including UV, visible light, and infrared radiation. For many materials, exposure to the full spectrum is necessary to provide an accurate simulation, especially when testing for color change and lightfastness. However, xenon light must be properly filtered to achieve the appropriate spectrum for each particular application. Differences in spectra may affect both the speed and type of degradation.