ASTM G178-03 - 10.7.2003
 
1. Scope

1.1 This practice describes the determination of the relative actinic effects of individual spectral bands of an exposure source on a material. The activation spectrum is specific to the light source to which the material is exposed to obtain the activation spectrum. A light source with a different spectral power distribution will produce a different activation spectrum.

1.2 This practice describes two procedures for determining an activation spectrum. One uses sharp cut-on UV/visible transmitting filters and the other uses a spectrograph to determine the relative degradation caused by individual spectral regions.

Note 1-Other techniques can be used to isolate the effects of individual spectral bands of a light source, for example, interference filters.

1.3 The techniques are applicable to determination of the spectral effects of solar radiation and laboratory accelerated test devices on a material. They are described for the UV region, but can be extended into the visible region using different cut-on filters and appropriate spectrographs.

1.4 The techniques are applicable to a variety of materials, both transparent and opaque, including plastics, paints, inks, textiles and others.

1.5 The optical and/or physical property changes in a material can be determined by various appropriate methods. The methods of evaluation are beyond the scope of this practice.

1.6 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.

Note 2-There is no ISO standard that is equivalent to this standard.

 
2. Referenced Documents

D2244-23

Standard Practice for Calculation of Color Tolerances and Color Differences from Instrumentally Measured Color Coordinates

E313-20

Standard Practice for Calculating Yellowness and Whiteness Indices from Instrumentally Measured Color Coordinates

D638-22

Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics

D822-23

Standard Practice for Filtered Open-Flame Carbon-Arc Exposures of Paint and Related Coatings

D1435-20

Standard Practice for Outdoor Weathering of Plastics

D1499-13(2021)

Standard Practice for Filtered Open-Flame Carbon-Arc Exposures of Plastics

E925-09(2022)

Standard Practice for Monitoring the Calibration of Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrophotometers whose Spectral Bandwidth does not Exceed 2 nm

G7-05

Standard Practice for Atmospheric Environmental Exposure Testing of Nonmetallic Materials

G24-21

Standard Practice for Conducting Exposures to Daylight Filtered Through Glass

G90-23

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

G113-22

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

G147-17

Standard Practice for Conditioning and Handling of Nonmetallic Materials for Natural and Artificial Weathering Tests

G152-13(2021)

Standard Practice for Operating Open Flame Carbon Arc Light Apparatus for Exposure of Nonmetallic Materials

D2565-23

Standard Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposure of Plastics Intended for Outdoor Applications

D4141-07

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

D4329-21

Standard Practice for Fluorescent Ultraviolet (UV) Lamp Apparatus Exposure of Plastics

D4364-13(2022)e1

Standard Practice for Performing Outdoor Accelerated Weathering Tests of Plastics Using Concentrated Sunlight (Includes all amendments and changes 2/25/2022).

D4459-21

Standard Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposure of Plastics Intended for Indoor Applications

D4508-10

Standard Test Method for Chip Impact Strength of Plastics (Withdrawn 2016)

G153-13(2021)

Standard Practice for Operating Enclosed Carbon Arc Light Apparatus for Exposure of Nonmetallic Materials

G154-23

Standard Practice for Operating Fluorescent Ultraviolet (UV) Lamp Apparatus for Exposure of Materials

G155-21

Standard Practice for Operating Xenon Arc Lamp Apparatus for Exposure of Materials

D4587-23

Standard Practice for Fluorescent UV-Condensation Exposures of Paint and Related Coatings

D5031-23

Standard Practice for Enclosed Carbon-Arc Exposure Tests of Paint and Related Coatings

D6360-15(2021)

Standard Practice for Enclosed Carbon-Arc Exposures of Plastics

D6695-16

Standard Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposures of Paint and Related Coatings

E275-08(2022)

Standard Practice for Describing and Measuring Performance of Ultraviolet and Visible Spectrophotometers

D256-23e1

Standard Test Methods for Determining the Izod Pendulum Impact Resistance of Plastics (Includes all amendments and changes 4/7/2023).