The reliability and stability of the modern materials, electronics, and other consumer products is tested on the controlled environment in which temperature and humidity can be manipulated with precision. Such is the reason that temperature humidity chambers are commonly used in the industries where the stability tests are needed with the high degree of accuracy. Temperature humidity chambers provide a scientifically controlled mode of test whether engineers require assessing the ability of a product to withstand moisture, extreme temperature, repeated temperature, or sustained exposure to environmental conditions. The use of these climate chambers has been mandatory in laboratories that test the quality of the products before introducing them to the market.
The stability test enables the manufacturers to know the way the products will respond to the environmental stresses that could be experienced on transportation, storage or prolonged use. Without such tests, the products might not perform in the real world as anticipated resulting into costly recalls or safety problems. Extremely crucial is that temperature humidity chambers one of the most significant tools in quality control and product development offer stable and reproducible conditions.

Why Stability Testing Requires Controlled Temperature and Humidity

Almost all materials and electronic components are affected by the environmental conditions. Condensation, mold growth, electrical leakage or swelling can result because of high humidity. High temperature conditions may destroy plastics, diminish adhesives, elicit chemical formulation, and diminish the duration of life of electronics. When doing stability testing, temperature humidity chambers expose products to these pressures in a controlled and expedited way.
The stability chambers are able to mimic years of environmental exposure of a product within few weeks compared to months. Through the controlled variation of temperature and humidity, the engineers are able to monitor the variation in the property of the material, mechanical strength, electrical interaction, surface contingency, and active consistency. The testing is necessary in electronics, pharmaceuticals, packaging materials, automotive parts, LED lighting systems, aerospace parts and numerous others.

How Temperature Humidity Chambers Work

The temperature humidity chambers of today feature comprehensive heating and cooling systems, steam water generation systems and airflows control so as to provide constant environmental conditions. Digital sensors check the important variables and a microcontroller regulates the heating or humidifying components to sustain the intended environment.
Most chambers have the following important elements:
1. Heating System
Tests of high temperature are conducted using resistive heaters to raise inner temperature.
2. Refrigeration System
Refrigeration compressor reduces the temperature to cold / low temperature tests.
3. Humidification System
Water can be added to the supply by the use of steam generators or ultrasonic humidifiers until they reach a desired humidity.
4. Dehumidification System
The process of removing moisture is done by condensing coils or desiccants to achieve low humidity.
5. Digital Controller
High precision type controllers have a high degree of accuracy and maintain temperature and humidity at a high level usually within ±0.5 degrees Celsius and ±2 percent relative humidity.
Professional equipment provided by manufacturers such as LISUN can be used when the laboratory is run to provide stable environmental conditions, homogenous air flow, and digital monitoring equipment that makes long duration testing more reliable.

Types of Stability Tests Performed

There is no single technique that stability testing can use. Chambers are simulated to execute some of the types of environmental simulations that can imitate the real life conditions in dependence of the industry requirements.
Thermal Stress Testing
To test deformation, change in color, strength of adhesive or electronic drift, products are subjected to excessive heat of up to 80 degrees Celsius.
Cold Testing
Low temperature tests are used to determine the behaviour of materials during the freezing state.
Constant Temperature Humidity Testing
Numerous industries need to preserve samples under constant conditions including 40 degrees Celsius and 75 percent humidity over a long time.
Temperature Cycling
Goods are subjected to constant changes in temperature between hot and cool. These cycles replicate climatic changes encountered by outdoor products day-to-day, and tests the fatigue endurance.
Moisture Resistance Testing
High humidity test recognizes the absorption of moisture, corrosion, formation of molds and swelling of materials.

Figure: Temperature humidity chamber

Applications Across Different Industries

Electronics and Semiconductors
Moisture and temperature have a sensitive effect on electronic components. Humidity temperature chambers show the performance of circuit boards, connectors and semiconductor packages in adverse conditions. The exposure of insulation to humidity in the long term may result in its breakdown or oxidation. These tests assist the engineers to come up with better protection coating, sealant and enclosures.
Automotive Components
The cars work under a variety of conditions. Dashboard materials used, sensors, wiring harness and LED light modules should be able to resist the extreme environmental conditions. Chambers can be useful to assess the material fatigue and stability of performances during accelerated aging.
LED and Lighting Systems
All LED drivers, optical lenses, reflectors, gaskets and housings have varying reactions to humidity and temperature. The Stress tests identify early failures, discoloration and optical degradation. The reliability verifying preparation of LISUN temperature humidity chambers is frequently employed in the many lighting laboratories prior to producing in large quantities.
Pharmaceutical Packaging
The packaging of drugs should be able to retain its protective feature to withstand different environmental conditions like humidity and temperature. The stability chambers contribute to the stability of the medicines and the medical products during a shelf life.
Aerospace and Defense
Plane parts and defense technology have to operate well under high temperatures and altitude. Stability testing will cause constant stress to materials and they will be checked to confirm long term reliability.

Factors That Influence Climate Chamber Price

Prices of the climate chambers range across technical specifications and performance requirements. Capacity, temperature range, humidity range, and type of controller, workmanship, and stability in the long term are some of the key factors.
Automotive or aerospace level big-volume chambers are very expensive compared to the smaller laboratory chambers. The range of cost drivers is one of the largest. A room that can be cooled to very low temperatures like minus 70 degrees will be a little over the cost of that which operates on moderate temperatures.
Another factor of cost is that of humidity control. There is a high accuracy steam generation or dehumidification which also increases the price. Advanced controllers, touchscreen, data logging, remote monitoring, programmable cycles will also be more expensive. The sample of comparing various models in the laboratory will prefer to use some trusted manufacturers such as LISUN due to their environmental stability and durability over time.
Table: Practical Stability Testing

Conclusion

The temperature humidity chambers are very essential in modern industries to carry out the stability tests under controlled environmental conditions. These chambers guarantee that products will be dependable during their operational life even in the case they are subjected to extreme conditions of high and low temperatures and moisture. In picking out the chamber, technical requirements and judging of the price of the climate chambers will aid the manufacturers in identifying a model model that fits their testing requirements. Stability testing, through application of appropriate testing equipment and with the help of professional suppliers such as LISUN, would be a reliable and precise aspect of the product development process.