These include decorative electrodeposited coatings, paint systems, adhesives, composite materials, packaging materials and plastic mouldings.
Environmental testing is used to verify durability when exposed to extremes of environmental conditions in terms of temperature and humidity. They can also be used in conjunction with other accelerated weathering or aging procedures.
Environmental testing is particularly useful for replication of filiform corrosion using an initial salt fog exposure followed by a period of controlled temperature and humidity. This type of corrosion is known to occur under decorative and barrier coatings producing unsightly ‘worm like’ corrosion trails often seen under the paints and lacquers of alloy wheels on cars and high end aluminium bicycle frames and components.
Much of our work is involved with testing against automotive, military and aerospace standards that require tight control of exposure periods. These periods can be pre-programmed as steady state (constant) or as a cyclic profile typically from 180˚C down to -40˚C and 5 to 100% relative humidity.
Environmental testing programmes are conducted to simulate high and low humidity with heat and/or freezing conditions which may be typical of tropical and polar environments. Samples are often subjected to mechanical and physical testing before and after to evaluate degradation of properties.
For more information regarding climatic or environmental testing, please do not hesitate to contact us to further discuss your requirements.