ASTM D4364-05 - 15.9.2005
 
1. Scope

1.1 This practice covers the use of Fresnel-reflecting concentrators that use the sun as a source of ultraviolet (UV) and longer wavelength radiation. Such devices are used in the outdoor accelerated exposure testing of plastics.

1.2 This practice provides a procedure for performing outdoor accelerated exposure testing of plastics using a Fresnel-reflector outdoor accelerated weathering test machine. The apparatus is described herein and in Practice G 90 more completely.

1.3 This practice is applicable to a range of plastic materials including, but not limited to, plastic films, sheets, laminates, and extruded and molded products in a variety of shapes and sizes, as specified in .

1.4 This practice describes test conditions that attempt to simulate plastics exposures in desert and subtropical climates. Specimen preparation, property testing procedures, and the evaluation of results are covered in existing test methods or specifications for specific materials.

This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precautionary statements are given in Section .Note 1

This standard and ISO 877.2-1991, Method C, are technically equivalent.

 
2. Referenced Documents

ISO 877-3: 2009

Plastics--Methods of exposure to solar radiation--Part 3: Intensified weathering using concentrated solar radiation

D1435-20

Standard Practice for Outdoor Weathering of Plastics

D1600-18

Standard Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to Plastics (Withdrawn 2024)

D859-16(2021)e1

Standard Test Method for Silica in Water (Includes all amendments and changes 12/6/2021).

D883-26b

Standard Terminology Relating to Plastics (Includes all amendments and changes 8/24/2026).

D1898-68(1989)

Standard Practice for Sampling of Plastics (Withdrawn 1998)

D4141-07

Standard Practice for Conducting Black Box and Solar Concentrating Exposures of Coatings

E824-26

Standard Test Method for Transfer of Calibration From Reference to Field Radiometers

D4517-15(2023)

Standard Test Method for Low-Level Total Silica in High-Purity Water by Flameless Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

G113-24

Standard Terminology Relating to Natural and Artificial Weathering Tests of Nonmetallic Materials

G90-23

Standard Practice for Performing Accelerated Outdoor Weathering of Materials Using Concentrated Natural Sunlight

G7-05

Standard Practice for Atmospheric Environmental Exposure Testing of Nonmetallic Materials

G24-21

Standard Practice for Conducting Exposures to Daylight Filtered Through Glass

E772-15(2026)

Standard Terminology of Solar Energy Conversion