Application of LISUN XD-150LS Xenon Lamp Aging Test Chamber in Material Weather Resistance Evaluation

Abstract
Material aging, driven by sunlight, temperature, and humidity, poses significant challenges to product durability. The LISUN XD-150LS Xenon Lamp Aging Test Chamber addresses this by integrating the core principle of “natural simulation + accelerated aging”. Equipped with a xenon arc lamp that reproduces over 90% of natural sunlight’s full spectrum, this chamber accurately recreates destructive wavelengths (ultraviolet and visible light) from outdoor sunlight. Combined with temperature control, water spray, and humidity regulation modules, it establishes an alternating cycle of “light exposure – high temperature – spray – low temperature condensation”, fully simulating the three core aging factors. This study details the chamber’s working mechanism, technical specifications, test procedures, and practical applications, demonstrating its ability to compress months/years of outdoor aging into days/weeks, providing reliable data for material R&D, quality inspection, and industry compliance.

1. Introduction
In industries such as coatings, plastics, textiles, and automotive manufacturing, material weather resistance directly determines product service life. Traditional outdoor natural aging tests are time-consuming (taking months to years) and easily affected by uncontrollable factors (e.g., regional climate differences, seasonal changes), making them inefficient for rapid product development. The Xenon Lamp Aging Test Chamber, as a core equipment for artificial accelerated aging, solves this problem by simulating natural environmental factors in a laboratory. Among them, the LISUN XD-150LS Xenon Lamp Aging Test Chamber stands out for its high spectral similarity to natural light, precise environmental control, and compliance with multiple international standards. This article focuses on its design principles, technical parameters, and application scenarios to provide a reference for material weather resistance testing.

2. Core Working Principle of LISUN XD-150LS Xenon Lamp Aging Test Chamber

The operation of the LISUN XD-150LS Xenon Lamp Aging Test Chamber is based on two key concepts: full-spectrum sunlight simulation and multi-factor cyclic aging.

2.1 Full-Spectrum Sunlight Simulation with Xenon Arc Lamp

The chamber uses a 1.8KW Chinese-made xenon arc lamp (1200-hour lifespan) as the core light source. Unlike ordinary fluorescent lamps that only emit partial ultraviolet light, the xenon arc lamp, combined with a boric acid glass filter, can reproduce the full spectrum of natural sunlight (280~800nm wavelength range), including ultraviolet (UV, 280~400nm) and visible light (400~800nm). As shown in Figure 1, the spectral similarity between the xenon lamp and natural sunlight exceeds 90%, ensuring that the light-induced aging mechanism of materials in the chamber is consistent with outdoor natural aging. For example, the UV band (especially 340nm) in the xenon lamp spectrum can effectively simulate the photodegradation of polymer materials caused by short-wave UV in sunlight, which is crucial for evaluating the weather resistance of plastics and coatings.

Figure 1: Spectrum Comparison between Xenon Lamp (LISUN XD-150LS) and Natural Sunlight

Wavelength Range (nm)	Natural Sunlight Irradiance (W/m²)	Xenon Lamp Irradiance (W/m²)	Spectral Similarity (%)
280~340 (UV-B/C)	0.15~0.40	0.12~0.38	85~95
340~400 (UV-A)	0.30~0.60	0.28~0.57	92~95
400~800 (Visible Light)	300~1200	280~1180	93~98

2.2 Multi-Factor Cyclic Aging Environment Construction

To fully simulate outdoor aging conditions, the chamber integrates three core environmental control modules (temperature, humidity, and water spray) to create an alternating cycle of “light exposure – high temperature – spray – low temperature condensation”. The specific cycle logic and control parameters are as follows:
• Light Exposure Stage: The xenon lamp is turned on, and the irradiance is adjustable within 0.30~0.57W/m² (at 340nm) or 0.66~1.22W/m² (at 420nm). The black panel temperature (BPT) is controlled at 45~85℃ to simulate the surface temperature rise of materials under sunlight.
• High Temperature Stage: Maintains the chamber temperature at RT~80℃ (RT = room temperature) with a temperature fluctuation of ≤±0.5℃, accelerating thermal oxidation of materials.
• Spray Stage: Uses a nozzle with a 0.8mm aperture to spray water at a pressure of 0.12~0.15Mpa. The spray time (1~9999mins) and cycle (1~240mins) are adjustable, simulating rain erosion.
• Low Temperature Condensation Stage: Reduces the chamber temperature to 50℃±2℃ (with lights off) and maintains humidity at 80~95% R.H., simulating dew formation on material surfaces at night, which promotes electrochemical corrosion of coatings and metals.

This cyclic environment fully covers the three core factors of material aging (sunlight, temperature, humidity) and enhances the intensity of key factors (e.g., increasing UV irradiance, expanding temperature/humidity ranges), thereby compressing the aging process. For instance, aging phenomena that take 6 months outdoors for automotive paint can be reproduced in the chamber in 2~3 weeks.

3. Technical Specifications of LISUN XD-150LS Xenon Lamp Aging Test Chamber

The performance of the LISUN XD-150LS is supported by strict technical parameters, which ensure test accuracy and repeatability. Table 2 lists its key specifications, along with comparisons with other LISUN models (XD-010LS/XD-010LF) for reference.

Table 2: Technical Specifications of LISUN Xenon Lamp Aging Test Chamber

Parameter Category	Parameter Name	XD-150LS	XD-010LS	XD-010LF
Test Chamber Size	Inner Size (DWH, mm)	500600500	100010001000	100010001000
	Outer Size (DWH, mm)	103011301900	173014302100	173014302100
Sample Rack	Type	Flat Panel-Type	Flat Panel-Type	Drum-Type
	Size/Capacity	460*550mm	960*960mm	66 samples (190*70mm each)
	Distance to Lamp Center (mm)	200~400 (Adjustable)	260~300 (Fixed)	260~300 (Fixed)
Temperature Control	Chamber Temp. Range	RT~80℃	RT~80℃	RT~80℃
	Black Panel Temp. Range	45~85℃	45~85℃	45~85℃
	Temp. Fluctuation	≤±0.5℃	≤±0.5℃	≤±0.5℃
	Temp. Deviation (Lights Off)	±2℃	±2℃	±2℃
	Heating Power	2KW	4.5KW	4.5KW
Humidity Control	Humidity Range	20~95% R.H.	20~95% R.H.	20~95% R.H.
	Humidity Fluctuation	+2%, -3% R.H.	+2%, -3% R.H.	+2%, -3% R.H.
	Humidifying Power	2KW	3KW	3KW
Xenon Lamp System	Lamp Power/Quantity	1*1.8KW	3*1.8KW	1*6.0KW
	Lifespan	1200 Hours	1200 Hours	1200 Hours
	Filter Type	Boric Acid Glass	Full Set Filter	Full Set Filter
	Cooling Method	Air Cooling	Water Cooling	Water Cooling
Water Spray	Spray Pressure	0.12~0.15Mpa	0.12~0.15Mpa	0.12~0.15Mpa
	Spray Time/Cycle	1~9999mins/1~240mins	1~9999mins/1~240mins	1~9999mins/1~240mins
Power Supply	Type/Voltage/Frequency	Single Phase 220V 50Hz	Three Phases 380V 50Hz	Three Phases 380V 50Hz
	Power Consumption	7KW	15KW	17KW

Key advantages of the XD-150LS include: (1) Adjustable distance between the sample rack and the lamp center, suitable for samples of different thicknesses; (2) Air cooling design, which is simpler to maintain than water cooling (used in XD-010LS/XD-010LF); (3) Compact inner size, ideal for small-batch R&D tests (e.g., new coating formula screening).

4. Standard Test Procedures for LISUN XD-150LS

To ensure the reliability of test results, the LISUN XD-150LS requires strict adherence to standard procedures, which are divided into 7 steps (Figure 2):
Figure 2: Flowchart of LISUN XD-150LS Test Procedures
Sample Preparation → 2. Equipment Inspection → 3. Condition Setup → 4. Sample Placement → 5. Test Run → 6. Intermediate/Final Testing → 7. Result Evaluation

4.1 Sample Preparation

• Cut samples according to test standards (e.g., 75×150mm for plastics, 100×200mm for coatings) to ensure representativeness.
• Use LISUN auxiliary instruments to measure initial properties:
• HSCD-860 Portable Spectrophotometer: Test initial color difference (ΔE₀).
• AGM-500 Gloss Meter: Measure initial gloss (60° gloss value, G₀).
• PULL-500KG Tensile Tester: Determine initial tensile strength (σ₀).
• Package samples in clean, dry containers to avoid contamination.

4.2 Equipment Inspection

• Check the xenon lamp lifespan (replace if >1200 hours) and filter integrity (no cracks/scratches).
• Verify the cooling system (air flow for XD-150LS) and water spray system (nozzle blockage, water tank level, conductivity <5μs/cm).
• Calibrate irradiance (using a standard irradiance meter) and temperature sensors (error ≤±2℃).

4.3 Test Condition Setup

Take the automotive interior trim test (complying with SAE J2412) as an example:
• Irradiance: 0.55W/m² (at 340nm).
• Temperature: 63℃±3℃ (light phase), 50℃±2℃ (dark phase).
• Humidity: 50%±5% R.H. (light phase), 90%±5% R.H. (dark phase).
• Spray Cycle: 18mins spray/102mins pause.

4.4 Sample Placement

• Fix samples on the flat panel rack (460×550mm) with the test surface facing the xenon lamp.
• Maintain a ≥10mm gap between samples to ensure uniform illumination/temperature.
• Cover empty rack areas with blackboards to avoid chamber environment fluctuations.

4.5 Test Run

• Close the chamber door, start the equipment, and stabilize parameters for 30 minutes.
• Start the timer, and record data (irradiance, temperature, humidity) every 24 hours.
• Avoid frequent door openings; if necessary, pause the timer and restart after parameters stabilize.

4.6 Intermediate/Final Testing

• After 250 hours of testing, remove samples and condition them in a standard environment (23℃±2℃, 50%±5% R.H.) for 4 hours.
• Re-measure color difference (ΔE), gloss (G), and tensile strength (σ) using the same instruments.

4.7 Result Evaluation

• Appearance Assessment: Check for fading (ΔE > 3 indicates significant fading), chalking, or cracking.
• Performance Evaluation: Calculate tensile strength retention rate (σ/σ₀ × 100%); a retention rate <80% indicates poor weather resistance.
• Compliance Judgment: Compare results with standards (e.g., SAE J2412 requires ΔE ≤ 5 and σ retention rate ≥70% for qualified automotive interior trims).

5. Practical Applications of LISUN XD-150LS Xenon Lamp Aging Test Chamber

The LISUN XD-150LS is widely used in multiple industries due to its compliance with international standards (e.g., ISO 4892-2, ASTM G155, SAE J2412) and flexible test conditions.

5.1 Material R&D

In the coatings industry, R&D personnel use the chamber to screen new anti-aging coating formulas. For example, compare the aging performance of two acrylic coating formulas (A and B) after 500 hours of testing:
• Formula A: ΔE = 6.2, gloss retention rate = 65%, tensile strength retention rate = 72%.
• Formula B: ΔE = 3.1, gloss retention rate = 88%, tensile strength retention rate = 90%.
• The results show that Formula B has better anti-aging performance, so it is selected for further development.

5.2 Industrial Quality Inspection

For building waterproof materials (complying with GB/T 16422.2), manufacturers use the XD-150LS to conduct pre-delivery tests. The chamber simulates 2000 hours of outdoor aging (equivalent to 5 years outdoors), and qualified products must meet:
• No cracking, bubbling, or peeling.
• Water absorption rate increase ≤10%.
• Tensile strength retention rate ≥85%.

5.3 Automotive Industry

For automotive exterior trims (e.g., bumpers, complying with SAE J2527), the chamber simulates high-temperature exposure (70℃) and rain spray cycles. After 1000 hours of testing, qualified bumpers must have:
• Color difference ΔE ≤ 4.
• Impact strength retention rate ≥75%.
• No discoloration or deformation.

6. Conclusion
The LISUN XD-150LS Xenon Lamp Aging Test Chamber, with “natural simulation + accelerated aging” as its core, effectively solves the inefficiency of traditional natural aging tests. Its high-spectral-similarity xenon arc lamp and multi-factor cyclic control system ensure that test results are consistent with real outdoor aging. Supported by strict technical specifications and standard procedures, the chamber provides reliable data for material R&D, quality inspection, and industry compliance in coatings, plastics, automotive, and other fields. As industries demand higher product durability, the Xenon Lamp Aging Test Chamber will play an increasingly important role in promoting the development of high-performance, weather-resistant materials.

Tags：XD-150LS