QUV ACCELERATED WEATHERING TESTER

The QUV accelerated weathering tester reproduces the damage caused by sunlight, rain and dew. In a few days or weeks, the QUV UV tester can reproduce the damage that occurs over months or years outdoors. To simulate outdoor weathering, the QUV accelerated tester exposes materials to alternating cycles of UV light and moisture at controlled, elevated temperatures. It simulates the effects of natural sunlight and artificial irradiance using special fluorescent UV lamps in the UVA, UVB, and UVC portions of the spectrum. It simulates dew and rain with condensing humidity and/or water spray. The QUV accelerated weathering tester is the simplest, most reliable, and easiest to use weathering tester available. With thousands of testers in use worldwide, it is the world's most widely used weathering tester.

The World's Most Widely Used Weathering Tester™.
Test plastics, coatings, and other materials for durability when exposed to outdoor sunlight, heat, and water.
UV light is responsible for almost all photodegradation of durable materials exposed outdoors.  The QUV tester’s fluorescent lamps simulate the critical short-wave UV and realistically reproduce the physical property damage caused by sunlight.  Types of damage include color change, gloss loss, chalking, cracking, crazing, hazing, blistering, embrittlement, strength loss and oxidation.

Dew, not rain, is responsible for most of the wetness that occurs in outdoor exposure.  The QUV UV test chamber's condensation system realistically simulates dew and accelerates its effect using elevated temperature.

The condensation process automatically purifies the ordinary tap water used in the system.  This is because the process of evaporating and condensing the water onto the specimens is actually a distillation process, which removes all impurities.  See LU-0801 - QUV Brochure.

The QUV tester conveniently accommodates up to 48 specimens (75mm × 150mm) and complies with a wide range of international, national, and industry specifications, ensuring the reliability and reproducibility of your test program.  Visit our standards page for more information.

Easy to Operate
The QUV UV tester’s simple, proven design makes it easy to install, easy to use, and almost maintenance-free. It operates completely automatically, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Features include:
- Dual touchscreen user interface for easy operation and programming in 17 user-selectable languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Czech, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese
- Exposure conditions displayed continuously
- Multicolor LED light for quick “at-a-glance” tester status
- Self-diagnostic warnings and service reminders
- Quick calibration with patented AUTOCAL system

Affordable
The QUV tester is economical to purchase and to operate, because it uses:
- low cost, long life fluorescent UV lamps
- ordinary tap water for condensation

Models  (see also Features Tab)
- QUV/basic: UV and condensation (no irradiance control, single touchscreen display)
- QUV/se: UV, condensation and SOLAR EYE irradiance control
- QUV/spray: UV, condensation, SOLAR EYE irradiance control and water spray
- QUV/uvc: short-wave UVC light and SOLAR EYE irradiance control
- QUV/cw: cool white visible light, condensation and SOLAR EYE irradiance control

See LU-0819 - QUV Specifications or the Features Tab for comparative capabilities.

Model QUV/basic 
This is a simplified version of the QUV tester for the lab where economy is critical.  The model QUV/basic uses fluorescent UV lamps and a condensation system for moisture simulation.  The model, however, does not include the SOLAR EYE irradiance control.  Consequently, the light intensity cannot be adjusted or calibrated. This means the QUV/basic tester cannot be used for high irradiance testing.  In addition, periodic lamp replacement and repositioning is required.

Q-Lab recommends the QUV/basic tester for comparative exposures where the test specimens and the control specimens are exposed at the same time, in the same tester.

Model QUV/se
The most popular QUV model features the SOLAR EYE Irradiance Control, for precise maintenance of UV light intensity.  The QUV/se tester uses a proven condensation mechanism to simulate outdoor moisture attack.

The SOLAR EYE system is a precision control system that automatically maintains light intensity through a feedback loop. The controller monitors UV intensity and compensates for lamp aging and variability by adjusting power to the lamps.  The SOLAR EYE system provides:
- Controlled irradiance
- Longer lamp life
- Faster results
- More reproducible and repeatable testing
- ISO calibration 

For more information on the benefits of the SOLAR EYE irradiance control system, see LU-0801 - QUV Brochure.

Model QUV/spray 
The QUV/spray tester has the same functions as a standard QUV/se, but also includes a water spray system. Short periods of spray can be used to create a thermal shock. Longer periods can be used to achieve mechanical erosion. The QUV/spray tester can be set to produce:  UV alone, spray alone, or condensation.  Deionized water is recommended for all spray applications.

Model QUV/uvc
UVC light is used widely in ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI), a technique used to eliminate harmful viruses and bacteria. This short-wavelength, high-energy UVC light can also degrade the materials and surfaces it disinfects. The QUV/uvc model uses UVC lamps to deliver light concentrated at 254 nm to test for material durability against photodegradation effects resulting from exposure to UVC light. The QUV/uvc tester has multiple safety features to prevent stray UVC light from escaping; it is also not equipped with condensation or water spray.

Model QUV/cw 
Some industry test methods specify the use of cool white fluorescent lamps for indoor photostability testing. To reproduce these indoor light conditions, the QUV/cw uses ordinary cool white fluorescent lamps.  It has a SOLAR EYE irradiance control system that monitors and controls visible light output, rather than UV. See LU-0823 - QUV/cw Summary for more information.

Temperature Control
All QUV UV testers precisely control temperature to enhance accuracy and accelerate test results. Although temperature does not normally affect the primary photochemical reaction, it does affect the rate of any subsequent reactions. Therefore, the QUV tester’s ability to control temperature is essential during UV exposure.

Versatile Specimen Mounting
Standard specimen holders easily adjust for any thickness up to 20mm (3/4") and allow fast, snap-action specimen mounting. Retaining rings provide positive hold-down and do not require that test specimens be cut to close tolerance. In addition, custom holders are available for mounting various products, such as lenses, larger specimens, and 3-D components.  See the accessories tab or our specimen mounting page for more information.

Controls & Optional Software
The Dual Touchscreen Display is designed to be both functional and easy-to-use. The QUV main controller features dual, full-color touchscreen displays (except QUV/basic, which has a single touchscreen display) and can be programmed in 17 user-selectable languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Czech, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese. This system includes complete self-diagnostic error checking, constantly monitoring the status and performance of all systems. It also displays tester error messages and routine service reminders as needed. The multicolor LED status indicator light updates users on the tester’s operational state at a glance.

An external USB port on every QUV tester allows users to perform software upgrades quickly to address key performance issues. For quality systems that require documented proof of test conditions, this USB port can also be used to download tester performance history. Additionally, every QUV tester is equipped with an Ethernet connection. Optional VIRTUAL STRIPCHART PC software allows the user to automatically record and monitor exposure conditions and directly transfer data from the QUV UV test chamber to a Windows-based computer.  Data from either the USB export or PC application can be emailed directly to Q-Lab's technical support desk for expert troubleshooting and diagnostics.

QUV Lamps
Fluorescent UV lamps are inherently more stable than other types of lamps, including xenon arc lamps.  The spectral power distribution (SPD) does not change with lamp aging, even up to 8,000 hours.  This gives more reproducible test results, fewer lamp changes, and lower operational costs.

Q-Lab produces more UV lamps than the rest of the weathering industry combined.  Q-Lab's lamps are specially engineered to our own proprietary specifications, based on our 50 years of experience with fluorescent UV technology.  We have the most stringent quality control testing in the industry.  The result is that the QUV tester provides the most consistent, stable spectrum, year after year.

Several different types of UV lamps are available for different applications, which are listed below.  See LU-8160 - A Choice of Lamps for QUV and LU-0823 - QUV/cw Summary for more specific application guidelines

UVA-340 Lamps
The QUV tester’s UVA-340 lamps give the best simulation of sunlight in the critical short wavelength region from 365 nm down to the solar cut-off of 295 nm.  See LU-8052 - SPD for QUV UVA-340.

UVA-340+ Lamps
UVA-340+ lamps offer the same spectrum as UVA-340 lamps but provide longer lifetime at high irradiance, up to 1500 hours at 1.55 W/m2/nm and 750 hours at the maximum irradiance (1.85 W/m2/nm). 

UVA-351 Lamps
The QUV UV tester’s UVA-351 lamps simulate the UV portion of sunlight filtered through window glass.  It is most useful for interior applications, for testing of some inks and for polymer damage that can occur in an environment near a window.  See LU-8053 - SPD for QUV UVA-351.

UVB-313EL Lamps
The QUV tester’s UVB-313EL lamps maximize acceleration utilizing short-wave UV that is more severe than the UV normally found at the earth’s surface. Consequently, these lamps may produce unrealistically severe results for some materials. UVB-313EL lamps are most useful for QC and R&D applications, or for testing very durable materials.  See LU-8051 - SPD for QUV UVB-313EL.

UVB-313EL+ Lamps 
UVB-313EL+ lamps offer nearly the same spectrum as UVB-313EL lamps but provide longer lifetime at high irradiance, up to 1500 hours at 1.55 W/m2/nm and 750 hours at the maximum irradiance (1.85 W/m2/nm)

UVC Lamps
UVC lamps deliver high-intensity, monchromatic, short-wave UV light at 254 nm, which is well below the solar cut-on. This wavelength represents the most common type of UVC emission used for disinfection of surfaces exposed to harmful bacteria and viruses. While it can kill these pathogens effectively, UVC light can also cause photodegradation of plastics, coatings, and fabrics. UVC lamps reproduce this damaging irradiance, in order to evaluate durability of materials exposed to UVC light

QFS-40 Lamps
Also known as FS-40 or F40 UVB, this is the original QUV lamp.  FS-40 lamps are still specified in a few legacy automotive test methods.  QFS-40 lamps should only be used in the QUV/basic tester.  See LU-8050 - SPD for QUV QFS-40.

Cool White Lamps
The QUV UV test chamber’s cool white lamps (used only in model QUV/cw) effectively reproduce and accelerate indoor lighting conditions encountered in office and commercial environments as well as retail display lighting.  See LU-8049 - SPD for QUV/cw.

Optical Filters
Unlike xenon arc test chambers, the QUV tester does not require the use of any optical filters.

Easy Calibration Assures Accuracy
The QUV black panel temperature sensor needs to be calibrated periodically by the user to assure accurate and consistent results.  Calibrating the QUV black panel temperature sensor is quick and simple, and is performed with any standard reference thermometer.

Easy Calibration Assures Accuracy
For all models except QUV/basic, the QUV SOLAR EYE irradiance sensor needs to be calibrated periodically by the user to assure accurate and consistent results.  Calibrating the QUV tester using the AUTOCAL system is extremely simple.  It takes only a few minutes and virtually eliminates human error.

Q-Lab has two classes of devices used for irradiance calibration. The Universal Calibrator system is standard with all new QUV testers and is fully compatible with all previous model, as well as Q-SUN testers. The CR10 is Q-Lab's legacy QUV irradiance calibration system but remains forward-compatible with all new QUV testers. For more information, see LU-0801 - QUV Brochure.

Universal Calibrator (UC) System Radiometer Models
- Universal Calibrator (UC) System Radiometer Models
- UC1 handheld display - one device for displaying irradiance and temperature calibration information for all QUV and Q-SUN models*
- UC10/UV smart sensor - for use with UVA-340, UVA-351, or UVB-313 lamps (plus and non-plus versions)
- UC10/UVC smart sensor – for use with UVC lamps
- UC10/CW smart sensor - for use only with cool white lamps

*The UC system works with all irradiance-controlled QUV and Q-SUN testers but the UC1 is not needed for new QUV and Q-SUN testers.

Recalibration
UC10 smart sensors need to be replaced yearly for a newly-calibrated device. This is the most cost-effective option for most users. UC10 smart sensors can, alternatively, be returned to Q-Lab once per year for an inexpensive recalibration. See Recalibration Return Procedure.

CR10 and CR10/cw radiometers need to be returned to Q-Lab once per year for an inexpensive recalibration. See Recalibration Return Procedure.

Our calibration labs are accredited to ISO 17025 by the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA - Ohio Certificate Number 2382-01, China Certificate Number 2383-02, and England Certificate Number 2383-03).  Calibrations are traceable to the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

TECHNICAL BULLETINS
LU-0822 - Sunlight, Weathering, Light Stability
LU-0833 - QUV & Q-SUN Correlation FAQs
LU-8003 - Improved UV Light Source
LU-8004 - QUV vs. Sunshine Carbon Arc
LU-8005 - QUV vs. Enclosed Carbon Arc
LU-8007 - QUV to Simulate Behind-Glass
LU-8009 - QUV & Q-SUN: A Comparison
LU-8010 - Controlled Irradiance in Testing
LU-8012 - Standards Met by QUV
LU-8030 - Errors Caused by Using Joules
LU-8031 - High Irradiance UV Testers
LU-8032 - Irradiance Control in QUV
LU-8035 - Natural vs. UV Exposures
LU-8054 - SPD for Noon Summer Sunlight
LU-8160 - A Choice of Lamps for QUV
LW-6049 - Importance of Water Purity in Testers
LX-5026 - Quantifying Indoor Light

TECHNICAL ARTICLES
LF-8115 - Evaluation of Organic Coatings
LF-8140 - Accelerated Corrosion of Paints
LF-8147 - Marine Performance from Salt Fog
LF-8148 - Test Methods for Bridge Coatings
LF-8149 - Performance of Industrial Coatings
LF-8160 - Combined Corrosion & Weathering
LL-9033 - Outdoor Weathering Must Verify
LU-0823 - QUV/cw Summary
LU-0824 - Correlating Lab to Natural Weathering
LU-8020 - Correlating Lab to Natural for Gloss
LU-8021 - Polyester Weatherability
LU-8026 - Lab Spectra vs. Sunlight Through Auto Glass
LU-8027 - Correlating Lab & Natural for Sealants
LU-8029 - Degradation of Coatings by UV
LU-8039 - Weathering & Wood Coatings
LW-6039 - Accelerated Weathering of Vinyl Siding
LW-6041 - The Myth of Reciprocity
LW-6045 - Lightfastness & Weatherability
LW-6046 - Advances in Testing Weathering Resistance
LX-5022 - Light Stability & Service Life
LX-5023 - Lightfastness Studies of Inks
LX-5064 - Fade Resistance of Inks

PRODUCT BROCHURES
L-4061 - Q-Lab Products & Services Summary
LU-0801 - QUV Brochure
LU-0809 - QUV 40th Anniversary
LU-0843 - UV Safety Hazards Brochure
LW-6000 - General Testing Guide

SPECIFICATION BULLETINS
L-3000 - Universal Calibrator (UC) Specifications
L-4035 - VIRTUAL STRIPCHART Bulletin
LU-0819 - QUV Specifications
LU-0820 - QUV Space Saver Frame Specifications
LU-0825 - Product Safety Data Sheet Fluorescent Lamps
LU-8001 - QUV Specimen Mounting
LW-6048 - Water Repurification System

EQUIPMENT OPERATING MANUALS
Operating manuals have moved to Q-Portal, Q-Lab’s new customer portal. Please login to Q-Portal using your Q-Lab.com username and password, or create a new account and register your equipment to access your manual.

 

Q-SUN Xenon Arc Test Chambers

Q-SUN Xe-1 Xenon Test Chamber

The Q-SUN Xe-1 xenon arc chamber reproduces the damage caused by full-spectrum sunlight and rain. In a few days or weeks, the Q-SUN tester can reproduce the damage that occurs over months or years outdoors. The Q-SUN Xe-1 tester is a tabletop lightfastness, colorfastness, and photostability chamber. It has a single xenon arc lamp and is available with optional water spray and chiller. Its small scale is perfect for a lab with a limited budget or only an occasional need for testing. Installation of the Xe-1 tester is simple and specimens can be conveniently mounted horizontally on its flat specimen tray. The Q-SUN Xe-1 tester is the simplest, most reliable, and easiest to use xenon arc test chamber available.

A More Realistic Xenon
The Q-SUN Xe-1 tester’s xenon arc lamps provide the best match to the full spectrum of sunlight.  Near-horizontal specimen mounting and optional water spray provide the most realistic moisture simulation available in a compact xenon arc tester.  An optional chiller is available for low temperature applications.

Easy To Use
The Q-SUN Xe-1 xenon test chamber is easy to install - you can exhaust the Xe-1 directly into the room.  It is easy to use and practically maintenance-free.  Specimen mounting and evaluation is fast and easy with the unique slide-out specimen tray.  The Xe-1 tester is completely automated and can operate continuously, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Other features include:

- Remarkably simple user interface in 17 user-selectable languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Czech, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese
- Built-in Ethernet connection for data logging
- Comprehensive self-diagnostic warnings and service reminders
- Quick and easy calibration with patented AUTOCAL system

Fast Results
A product exposed outdoors to direct sunlight experiences maximum light intensity for only a few hours each day.  The Q-SUN Xe-1 tester can subject test specimens to the equivalent of noon summer sunlight for 24 hours a day, every day.  Consequently, specimen degradation can be highly accelerated.

Affordable
The Q-SUN Xe-1 tester’s low purchase price, low lamp prices and low operating costs create a breakthrough in the price/performance equation.  Now even the smallest lab can afford xenon arc testing.

Configurations (see also Features Tab)
- Q-SUN Xe-1-BE: full spectrum sunlight, dual touchscreen displays
- Q-SUN Xe-1-SE: full spectrum sunlight, water spray, dual touchscreen display
- Q-SUN Xe-1-BCE: full spectrum sunlight, chiller, and dual touchscreen display
- Q-SUN Xe-1-SCE: full spectrum sunlight, water spray, chiller, and dual touchscreen display
- Q-SUN Xe-1-WE: full spectrum sunlight, temperature-controlled water immersion, and dual touchscreen display.

See LX-5046 - Q-SUN Xe-1, Xe-2 & Xe-3 Specifications or the Features Tab for comparative information.

Full Spectrum Xenon Lamps
Xenon arc lamps give the best reproduction of full spectrum natural sunlight.  Q-Lab's lamps are air-cooled (not water-cooled), which makes them more economical, highly efficient and very low maintenance.  Standard lamps last for 1500 hours and the Xe-1 uses one lamp per machine. Enhanced lamps last for 3000 hours at normal irradiance and 1000 hours at high irradiance.

Optical Filters
A choice of optical filters is available to simulate a variety of service environments including direct sunlight and sunlight through window glass.  The performance of Q-Lab's filters does not decline with age; therefore, filters do not need to be replaced under normal operation.  The only exception to this is the Window-IR filter, which requires regular replacement.  All Q-SUN Xe-1 models use one optical filter per machine.  See LX-5060 - A Choice of Filters for Q-SUN.

Temperature Monitoring & Control
Control of temperature is important because it influences the rate of degradation.  Specimen exposure temperature is precisely controlled in the Q-SUN Xe-1 tester using a black panel temperature sensor.  The temperature can be set at any point between 35ºC and 103ºC, depending upon whether the sensor is insulated or uninsulated, irradiance level, filter type, lamp age and ambient room temperature.  Black panel temperature control is standard on the Xe-1 tester, or you can substitute chamber air temperature control as an option.  See LX-5000 - Q-SUN Xe-1, Xe-2 & Xe-3 Brochure.

Versatile Specimen Mounting
The flat specimen mounting tray in the Xe-1 tester accommodates different shapes and sizes of specimens, including three-dimensional parts.  A variety of specimen holders are available.  The Xe-1 mounting tray is 251mm x 457mm and holds up to 17 specimens @ 51mm x 102mm each.  See our specimen mounting page, LX-5080-SM - Q-SUN Xe-1 & Xe-3 Specimen Mounting or Accessories Tab for more information.

SOLAR EYE Irradiance Control
The SOLAR EYE irradiance control system constantly monitors and controls lamp output.  This assures precise light exposure and maximizes reproducibility of test results.  Irradiance control is available at 340nm, 420nm or TUV (Total UV).  See LX-5000 - Q-SUN Xe-1, Xe-2 & Xe-3 Brochure.

Optional Water Spray (Models Xe-1-SE and Xe-1-SCE)
Outdoor moisture attack is simulated via an optional pure water spray in the Xe-1 tester.  Two spray nozzles are located in the top of the chamber.  Spray can be programmed to operate during either the dark or light cycle.  Note that purified water is required for proper operation of the Xe-1 with water spray.  See LX-5000 - Q-SUN Xe-1, Xe-2 & Xe-3 Brochure.

Optional Heated Water Immersion (Model Xe-1-WE)
The ponding tray in the Q-SUN Xe-1-W submerges test samples in a temperature-controlled water bath during light or dark cycles. Immersion, draining, and temperature control are performed automatically with an integral water repurification and recirculation system. Immersion weathering testing simulates environments experienced by materials frequently exposed to standing water, like roofing materials and photovoltaic panels. See LX-5019, Xe-1-W Product Summary.

Optional Chiller for Low Temperature Applications (Models Xe-1-BCE and Xe-1-SCE)
For some interior products such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, exposure at room temperature is necessary to prevent unnatural degradation.  An optional chiller is available for the Xe-1 tester to lower temperatures when testing such heat sensitive materials.  See LX-5000 - Q-SUN Xe-1, Xe-2 & Xe-3 Brochure.  With a chiller, a Q-SUN Xe-1 tester can operate at 19-103ºC, depending upon sensor type, irradiance level, filter type, lamp age, and ambient room temperature.  The Xe-1 with chiller is configured so that the chiller acts as a permanent stand for the compact tester.

Controls & Optional Software
The Dual Touchscreen Display (Xe-1-BE, Xe-1-SE, Xe-1-SCE, Xe-1-WE) is designed to be both functional and easy-to-use, the Q-SUN main controller features dual, full-color touchscreen displays and can be programmed in eight user-selectable languages (English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese). This system includes complete self-diagnostic error checking, constantly monitoring the status and performance of all systems. It also displays tester error messages and routine service reminders as needed. The multicolor LED status indicator light updates users on the tester’s operational state at a glance.

An external USB port on every Q-SUN Xe-1 tester allows users to perform software upgrades quickly to address key performance issues. For quality systems that require documented proof of test conditions, this USB port can also be used to download tester performance history. Data from the USB export can be emailed directly to Q-Lab's technical support desk for expert troubleshooting and diagnostics.

Sunlight Simulation
The Q-SUN Xe-1 tester’s xenon arc lamps produce the most realistic reproduction of full spectrum sunlight including ultraviolet, visible light and infrared radiation. For many materials, exposure to the full spectrum is necessary to provide an accurate simulation, especially when testing for color change and lightfastness.  See LX-5000 - Q-SUN Xe-1, Xe-2 & Xe-3 Brochure.

Standard and "Plus" Lamps
The Q-SUN Xe-1 tester uses a single, air-cooled xenon arc lamp. It significantly reduces operating and maintenance expenses compared to water-cooled lamps. Typical lamp life for a standard lamp is 1500 hours at normal irradiance.

Plus lamps are available that allow for improved lamp life, as well as the ability to test at high irradiance. These lamps typically last for 3000 hours at normal irradiance, and 1000 hours at high irradiance.

Changing the Xe-1 lamp is quick and easy – it is easily accessible from the front of the tester.  Replacement only requires the user to disconnect a simple plug connection, release two set screws, and remove the lamp housing. See LX-5000 - Q-SUN Xe-1, Xe-2 & Xe-3 Brochure.

A Choice of Optical Filters to Simulate a Variety of Environments
Xenon light must be properly filtered to achieve the appropriate spectrum for each particular application.  Differences in spectra may affect both the speed and the type of degradation.  Three categories of filters are available to simulate a variety of service environments, which are shown below.  The application or test method dictates which filters should be used.  See LU-8054a - SPD for QUV, Q-SUN, and Noon Summer Sunlight.

Daylight Filters
Daylight filters are used to simulate direct, noon summer sunlight. They provide the best correlation to natural exposures for most applications.  Materials that are typically used outdoors (e.g. roofing and exterior coatings) should be tested using daylight filters.  Three different types of daylight filters are available for the Q-SUN Xe-1 tester:  Daylight - F, Daylight - Q and Daylight - B/B. Daylight-Q and Daylight-F filters meet the specifications of Type I Daylight filters described in ASTM and ISO standards. Daylight-B/B filters are classified as Type II Daylight filters.

Window Glass Filters
Window glass filters produce spectra equivalent to sunlight coming through window glass.  This spectrum can also simulate other indoor lighting such as the harsh lighting found in a typical commercial or office environment.  Window glass filters are used for indoor materials such as printing materials and textiles.  Four different window glass filters are available for the Q-SUN Xe-1 tester:  Window - Q, Window - B/SL, Window - SF-5 and Window - IR.

Extended UV Filters
Extended UV Filters allow excess UV, below the normal cut-on of natural sunlight.  They are used to produce faster or more severe test results.  Extended UV Filters are specified in some automotive test methods and are sometimes used for aerospace applications. The most common Q-SUN filter of this type is the Extended UV - Q/B.

The Q-SUN Xe-1 tester’s long-life filters are exceptionally durable and maintain the required spectrum indefinitely.  After many years of use, Q-SUN filters have yet to show any signs of aging.  See LX-5060 - A Choice of Filters for Q-SUN for a more detailed discussion of optical filters, but the information above can be a useful guide.

Easy Calibration Assures Accuracy
The Q-SUN Xe-1 black panel temperature sensor and optional chamber air temperature sensor need to be calibrated periodically by the user.  This assures accurate and consistent results.

Calibrating the Xe-1 black panel temperature sensor is simple using the Universal Calibrator system’s UC202 calibrated temperature sensor and UC1 handheld display, or the historical CT202 calibrated thermometer, and takes only a few minutes.  Note that the CT202 and UC202 thermometers come with either an uninsulated black panel (UC202/BP, CT202/BP) or insulated black panel (UC202/IBP, CT202/IBP) sensor.  This sensor must match the type of sensor actually used in the Xe-1 tester.  Calibrating the optional chamber air temperature sensor is simply performed with any standard reference thermometer.

Calibration of the UC202 and CT202 thermometers needs to be performed annually. The UC202 thermometers were designed to be disposable and cost-efficient, and should be replaced annually with a  freshly-calibrated UC202. The CT202 thermometer needs to be returned to Q-Lab once per year for an inexpensive recalibration. UC202 units may also be returned for calibration for users who prefer recalibration to replacement. See our Recalibration Return Procedure.  Our calibration labs are ISO 17025 accredited by the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA - Ohio Certificate Number 2382-01, China Certificate Number 2383-02, and England Certificate Number 2383-03).  Calibrations are traceable to the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Easy Calibration Assures Accuracy
The Q-SUN Xe-1 SOLAR EYE irradiance sensor needs to be calibrated periodically by the user to assure accurate and consistent results.

Calibrating the Xe-1 tester is simple using the Universal Calibrator system’s UC20 calibration radiometer or the legacy CR20 calibration radiometer, and takes only a few minutes.  Both UC20 and CR20 devices come with a 340nm, 420nm, or 300-400nm TUV (Total UV) sensor and must match the type of sensor actually used in the Q-SUN tester. CR20 calibration radiometers must also match the optical filter in use in the Q-SUN.

Calibration of the UC20 and CR20 radiometers needs to be performed annually. The UC20 sensors were designed to be disposable and cost-efficient, and should be replaced annually with a  freshly-calibrated UC20. The CR20 radiometer needs to be returned to Q-Lab once per year for an inexpensive recalibration. UC20 units may also be returned for calibration for users who prefer recalibration to replacement.  See our Recalibration Return Procedure.  Our calibration labs are ISO 17025 accredited by the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA - Ohio Certificate Number 2382-01, China Certificate Number 2383-02, and England Certificate Number 2383-03).  Calibrations are traceable to the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

TECHNICAL BULLETINS
LU-0822 - Sunlight, Weathering, Light Stability
LU-0833 - QUV & Q-SUN Correlation FAQs
LU-8009 - QUV & Q-SUN: A Comparison
LU-8010 - Controlled Irradiance in Testing
LU-8030 - Errors Caused by Using Joules
LU-8054 - SPD for Noon Summer Sunlight
LW-6049 - Importance of Water Purity in Testers
LX-5020 - Rotating vs. Static Xenon I
LX-5021 - Rotating vs. Static Xenon II
LX-5024 - Rotating and Static Xenon Testers Compared
LX-5025 - Accelerated Acid Etch for Auto
LX-5026 - Quantifying Indoor Light
LX-5029 - Accelerated Acid Etch II
LX-5054 - Standards Met by Q-SUN Testers
LX-5060 - A Choice of Filters for Q-SUN
LX-5104 - A Comparison between Carbon Arc and Xenon Arc Accelerated Weathering Testing

TECHNICAL ARTICLES
LL-9033 - Outdoor Weathering Must Verify
LU-8021 - Polyester Weatherability
LU-8027 - Correlating Lab & Natural for Sealants
LW-6039 - Accelerated Weathering of Vinyl Siding
LW-6041 - The Myth of Reciprocity
LW-6043 - Assessing the Weatherability of Plastics
LW-6045 - Lightfastness & Weatherability
LW-6046 - Advances in Testing Weathering Resistance
LX-5016 - ASTM D7869 is a Weathering Test Revolution
LX-5017 - Q-Lab & ASTM Standards
LX-5022 - Light Stability & Service Life
LX-5023 - Lightfastness Studies of Inks
LX-5025a - Accelerated Acid Etch for Auto
LX-5030 - Automotive Xenon Test Methods
LX-5032 - Water in Xenon Testing for Auto Coatings
LX-5037 - Accelerated Weathering for Better Results
LX-5064 - Fade Resistance of Inks

PRODUCT BROCHURES
L-4061 - Q-Lab Products & Services Summary
LW-6000 - General Testing Guide
LX-5000 - Q-SUN Xe-1, Xe-2 & Xe-3 Brochure
LX-5014 - Q-SUN ICH Guidelines Brochure
LX-5019 - Q-SUN Xe-1-W Brochure
LX-5077 - Replacement Lamps & Filters for Atlas

SPECIFICATION BULLETINS
L-3000 - Universal Calibrator (UC) Specifications
L-4035 - VIRTUAL STRIPCHART Bulletin
LW-6048 - Water Repurification System
LX-5046 - Q-SUN Xe-1, Xe-2 & Xe-3 Specifications
LX-5047 - Q-SUN Sample Mounting
LX-5070 - Product Safety Data Sheet Xenon Lamps

EQUIPMENT OPERATING MANUALS
Operating manuals have moved to Q-Portal, Q-Lab’s new customer portal. Please login to Q-Portal using your Q-Lab.com username and password, or create a new account and register your equipment to access your manual.
 

Q-SUN Xe-2 Xenon Test Chamber

The Q-SUN Xe-2 rotating rack xenon arc test chamber reproduces the damage caused by full-spectrum sunlight and rain. In a few days or weeks, the Q-SUN Xe-2 tester can reproduce the damage that occurs over months or years outdoors. The Xe-2 tester is a full-featured weathering, lightfastness and photostability chamber at a breakthrough price. It provides precise control of critical test parameters including spectrum, irradiance, relative humidity, chamber temperature and black panel/black standard temperature. Water spray is also an available option. The versatile Q-SUN Xe-2 tester is the simplest, most reliable, and easiest to use rotating rack xenon arc tester available. The Q-SUN Xe-2 is the successor model to the Q-SUN B02.

The New Standard in Rotating Rack Xenon Testers
The Q-SUN Xe-2 rotating rack xenon arc chamber is a full featured weathering and lightfastness chamber at a breakthrough price.  The Q-SUN Xe-2 tester’s xenon arc lamp provides the best match to full spectrum sunlight.  A variety of optical filters are available to match nearly any global xenon test standard.  Simultaneous, precise control of relative humidity, chamber air and black panel/black standard temperature is standard. Optional water spray can be added to simulate the erosion effects of rain.

Easy To Use
The Q-SUN Xe-2 xenon test chamber is easy to install, easy to use and easy to maintain.  Specimen mounting and evaluations are simplified with specially designed specimen holders.  The Xe-2 tester is completely automated and can operate continuously, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Other features include:
- Remarkably simple user interface in 17 user-selectable languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Czech, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese
- Built-in Ethernet connection for data logging with provided software
- Comprehensive self-diagnostic warnings and service reminders
- Quick and easy user-performed calibration with patented AUTO-CAL system

Fast Results
A product exposed outdoors to direct sunlight experiences maximum light intensity for only a few hours each day.  The Q-SUN Xe-2 tester can accelerate results by subjecting test specimens to the equivalent of noon summer sunlight for 24 hours a day, every day. Consequently, specimen degradation can be highly accelerated. 

Affordable
The Q-SUN Xe-2 tester was specifically designed to be an affordable rotating rack xenon tester.  Its low purchase price, low lamp price, and low operating costs set a new standard for lightfastness testing.  Now even the smallest lab can afford rotating rack xenon arc weathering and lightstability testing.

Models (see also Features Tab)
- Q-SUN Xe-2-HE: full-spectrum sunlight, rotating rack specimen holder, with humidity control
- Q-SUN Xe-2-HSE: full-spectrum sunlight, rotating rack specimen holder, with humidity control and water spray
- Q-SUN Xe-2-HBSE: full-spectrum sunlight, rotating rack specimen holder, with humidity control and water spray (front and back)

See LX-5046 – Q-SUN Specification Bulletin or the Features Tab for comparative information.

Full Spectrum Xenon Lamps
Xenon arc lamps give the best reproduction of full spectrum natural sunlight.  Q-Lab's lamps are air-cooled (not water-cooled), which makes them more economical, highly efficient and very low maintenance.  Standard lamps last for 1500 hours and the Xe-2 uses one lamp per machine. Enhanced lamps last for 3000 hours at normal irradiance and 1000 hours at high irradiance.

Optical Filters
The Q-SUN Xe-2 model’s optical filter lanterns are designed to produce the spectra specified in many global weathering and lightfastness test standards.  These standards apply to a variety of industries for outdoor applications, as well as interior applications where sunlight may enter through a window.  The lanterns consist of an outer borosilicate or quartz glass cylinder and two sets of 7 inner filters, arranged in a two-tier heptagon.

Temperature Monitoring & Control
Control of temperature is important because it influences the rate of degradation. Specimen exposure temperature is precisely controlled in the Q-SUN Xe-2 tester using black panel and chamber air temperature sensors.  The black panel temperature can be set at any point between 35ºC and 105ºC, depending upon whether the black panel is insulated or uninsulated, irradiance level, filter type, lamp age, chamber air temperature and ambient room temperature.  See LX-5046 – Q-SUN Specification Bulletin.

Large Specimen Capacity
The Q-SUN Xe-2 tester has a large specimen capacity, supporting 31 specimens of 46 mm x 122 mm each.  Its vertically mounted specimen holders are very easy to install and remove.  See our specimen mounting page or Accessories Tab for more information.

SOLAR EYE Irradiance Control
The SOLAR EYE Irradiance Control System constantly monitors and controls lamp output to assure precise light exposure and to maximize repeatability and reproducibility of test results.  Irradiance control is available at 340nm or 300-400nm TUV (Total UV).  See LX-5046 – Q-SUN Specification Bulletin.

Humidity Control
Relative humidity (RH) control is standard in the Q-SUN Xe-2 tester.  It allows the user to simultaneously control and display RH, black panel temperature, and chamber air temperature.  Note that purified water is required for proper operation of the RH system in the Xe-2 tester.  See LX-5046 – Q-SUN Specification Bulletin.

Optional Water Spray
Outdoor moisture attack is simulated via an optional pure water spray in the Xe-2 tester.  A spray nozzle located in the top of the chamber can be programmed to operate during either the dark or light cycle.  Note that purified water is required for proper operation of the water spray and RH features in the Xe-2 tester.  See LX-5046 – Q-SUN Specification Bulletin.

Optional Back Spray (Model Xe-2-BS)
Back spray is available for the Xe-2 tester and is required by some SAE test methods; it allows water to be sprayed on both the front and back of specimens simultaneously. Note that purified water is required for proper operation of the Xe-2 with back spray.

Controls & Optional Software
The Dual Touchscreen Display is designed to be both functional and easy to use, the Q-SUN Xe-2 controller can be programmed in 17 user-selectable languages (English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Czech, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese) and includes complete self-diagnostic error checking. The controller constantly monitors the status and performance of all systems. It also displays simple warning messages, routine service reminders or performs safety shutdown, as needed.

An external USB port on every Q-SUN Xe-2 tester allows users to perform software upgrades quickly to address key performance issues. For quality systems that require documented proof of test conditions, this USB port can also be used to download tester performance history. Data from the USB export can be emailed directly to Q-Lab's technical support desk for expert troubleshooting and diagnostics.

Sunlight Simulation
The Q-SUN Xe-2 tester’s xenon arc lamp produces the most realistic reproduction of full spectrum sunlight including ultraviolet, visible light and infrared radiation. For some materials, exposure to the full spectrum is necessary to provide an accurate simulation, especially when testing for color change and lightfastness in textiles. 

Standard and “Plus” Lamps
Standard and “Plus” Lamps (Replacing Long Lasting Lamps)
The Q-SUN Xe-2 tester uses a single, air-cooled xenon arc lamp. It significantly reduces operating and maintenance expenses compared to water-cooled lamps. Typical lamp life for a standard lamp is 1500 hours at normal irradiance. Plus lamps are available that allow for improved lamp life, as well as the ability to test at high irradiance. These lamps typically last for 3000 hours at normal irradiance, and 1000 hours at high irradiance.  See LX-5046 –Q-SUN Specification Bulletin.

Changing the Xe-2 lamp is quick and easy – it is easily accessible from the top of the tester.  Replacement only requires the user to open an access door, release a set screw, and remove the trigger finger.  The lamp and lamp housing can then be simply lifted out of the tester.

A Choice of Optical Filters to Simulate a Variety of Environments
Xenon light must be properly filtered to achieve the appropriate spectrum for each particular application.  Differences in spectra may affect both the speed and the type of degradation.  Three categories of filters are available to simulate a variety of service environments, which are shown below.  The application or test method dictates which filters should be used.  See LU-8054a - SPD for QUV, Q-SUN, and Noon Summer Sunlight.

Daylight Filters
Daylight filters are used to simulate direct, noon summer sunlight. They provide the best correlation to natural exposures for most applications.  Materials that are typically used outdoors (e.g. roofing and exterior coatings) should be tested using daylight filters.  Three different types of daylight filters are available for the Q-SUN Xe-1 tester:  Daylight - F, Daylight - Q and Daylight - B/B. Daylight-Q and Daylight-F filters meet the specifications of Type I Daylight filters described in ASTM and ISO standards. Daylight-B/B filters are classified as Type II Daylight filters.

Window Glass Filters
Window glass filters produce spectra equivalent to sunlight coming through window glass.  This spectrum can also simulate other indoor lighting such as the harsh lighting found in a typical commercial or office environment.  Window glass filters are used for indoor materials such as printing materials and textiles.  Four different window glass filters are available for the Q-SUN Xe-1 tester:  Window - Q, Window - B/SL, Window - SF-5 and Window - IR.

Extended UV Filters
Extended UV Filters allow excess UV, below the normal cut-on of natural sunlight.  They are used to produce faster or more severe test results.  Extended UV Filters are specified in some automotive test methods and are sometimes used for aerospace applications. The most common Q-SUN filter of this type is the Extended UV - Q/B.

The Q-SUN Xe-2 tester’s long-life filters are exceptionally durable and maintain the required spectrum indefinitely.  After many years of use, Q-SUN filters have yet to show any signs of aging.  See LX-5060 - A Choice of Filters for Q-SUN for a more detailed discussion of optical filters, but the information above can be a useful guide.

Easy Calibration Assures Accuracy
The Q-SUN Xe-2 black panel temperature sensor needs to be calibrated periodically by the user.  This assures accurate and consistent results. 

Calibrating the Xe-2 black panel temperature sensor is simple using the Universal Calibrator system’s UC202 calibrated temperature sensor and UC1 handheld display, or the historical CT202 calibration thermometer, and takes only a few minutes.  Note that the CT202 and UC202 calibration thermometers come with either an uninsulated black panel (UC202/BP, CT202/BP) or insulated black panel (UC202/IBP, CT202/IBP) sensor.  This sensor must match the type of sensor actually used in the Xe-2 tester.  The low-cost, combination relative humidity/chamber air temperature is designed to be replaced once a year by the user and cannot be recalibrated.

Calibration of the UC202 and CT202 thermometers needs to be performed annually. The UC202 thermometers were designed to be disposable and cost-efficient, and should be replaced annually with a  freshly-calibrated UC202. The CT202 thermometer needs to be returned to Q-Lab once per year for an inexpensive recalibration. UC202 units may also be returned for calibration for users who prefer recalibration to replacement. Our calibration labs are ISO 17025 accredited by the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA - Ohio Certificate Number 2382-01, China Certificate Number 2383-02, and England Certificate Number 2383-03).  Calibrations are traceable to the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Easy Calibration Assures Accuracy
The Q-SUN Xe-2 SOLAR EYE irradiance sensor needs to be calibrated periodically by the user.  This assures accurate and consistent results. Calibrating the Xe-2 tester is simple using the Universal Calibrator system’s UC20 calibration radiometer or the legacy CR20 calibration radiometer, and takes only a few minutes.

Both UC20 and CR20 devices come with a 340nm, 420nm, or 300-400nm TUV (Total UV) sensor and must match the type of sensor actually used in the Q-SUN tester. CR20 calibration radiometers must also match the optical filter in use in the Q-SUN.

Calibration of the UC20 and CR20 radiometers needs to be performed annually. The UC20 sensors were designed to be disposable and cost-efficient, and should be replaced annually with a  freshly-calibrated UC20. The CR20 radiometer needs to be returned to Q-Lab once per year for an inexpensive recalibration. UC20 units may also be returned for calibration for users who prefer recalibration to replacement.  See our  Recalibration Return Procedure.  Our calibration labs are ISO17025 accredited by the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA - Ohio Certificate Number 2382-01, China Certificate Number 2383-02, and England Certificate Number 2383-03).  Calibrations are traceable to the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

TECHNICAL BULLETINS
LU-0833 - QUV & Q-SUN Correlation FAQs
LU-8009 - QUV & Q-SUN: A Comparison
LU-8010 - Controlled Irradiance in Testing
LU-8030 - Errors Caused by Using Joules
LU-8054 - SPD for Noon Summer Sunlight
LW-6049 - Importance of Water Purity in Testers
LX-5020 - Rotating vs. Static Xenon I
LX-5021 - Rotating vs. Static Xenon II
LX-5024 - Rotating and Static Xenon Testers Compared
LX-5025 - Accelerated Acid Etch for Auto
LX-5026 - Quantifying Indoor Light
LX-5029 - Accelerated Acid Etch II
LX-5054 - Standards Met by Q-SUN Testers
LX-5060 - A Choice of Filters for Q-SUN
LX-5104 - A Comparison between Carbon Arc and Xenon Arc Accelerated Weathering Testing

TECHNICAL ARTICLES
LL-9033 - Outdoor Weathering Must Verify
LW-6039 - Accelerated Weathering of Vinyl Siding
LW-6041 - The Myth of Reciprocity
LW-6043 - Assessing the Weatherability of Plastics
LW-6045 - Lightfastness & Weatherability
LX-5017 - Q-Lab & ASTM Standards
LX-5018 - Accelerated Testing for 21st Century
LX-5022 - Light Stability & Service Life
LX-5023 - Lightfastness Studies of Inks
LX-5025a - Accelerated Acid Etch for Auto
LX-5032 - Water in Xenon Testing for Auto Coatings
LX-5037 - Accelerated Weathering for Better Results
LX-5064 - Fade Resistance of Inks

PRODUCT BROCHURES
L-4061 - Q-Lab Products & Services Summary
LW-6000 - General Testing Guide
LX-5000 - Q-SUN Xe-1, Xe-2 & Xe-3 Brochure
LX-5077 - Replacement Lamps & Filters for Atlas

SPECIFICATION BULLETINS
L-3000 - Universal Calibrator (UC) Specifications
L-4035 - VIRTUAL STRIPCHART Bulletin
LW-6048 - Water Repurification System
LX-5046 - Q-SUN Xe-1, Xe-2 & Xe-3 Specifications
LX-5047 - Q-SUN Sample Mounting
LX-5070 - Product Safety Data Sheet Xenon Lamps

EQUIPMENT OPERATING MANUALS
Operating manuals have moved to Q-Portal, Q-Lab’s new customer portal. Please login to Q-Portal using your Q-Lab.com username and password, or create a new account and register your equipment to access your manual.
 

Q-SUN Xe-3 Xenon Test Chamber

The Q-SUN Xe-3 xenon arc chamber reproduces the damage caused by full-spectrum sunlight and rain. In a few days or weeks, the Q-SUN tester can reproduce the damage that occurs over months or years outdoors. The Q-SUN Xe-3 tester is a full-featured lightfastness, colorfastness, and photostability chamber at a breakthrough price. It utilizes three separate xenon lamps for a large capacity. The Q-SUN Xe-3 tester’s slide out specimen tray is 451mm x 718mm and is useful for exposing large, three-dimensional parts or components. The Xe-3 tester offers standard humidity control, and optional spray, back spray and chiller features. The Q-SUN Xe-3 is the only xenon arc tester that also has an optional dual spray capability. This allows for a second liquid such as acid rain or soap solutions, to be sprayed onto test specimens. The Q-SUN Xe-3 is the simplest, most reliable, and easiest to use full-sized xenon arc chamber available.

A More Realistic Xenon
The Q-SUN Xe-3 tester’s xenon arc lamps provide the best match to the full spectrum of sunlight.  Near-horizontal specimen mounting and optional water and back spray provide the most realistic moisture simulation available in a xenon arc tester.  The Xe-3 tester also is the only xenon test chamber to offer a dual spray option, allowing a second liquid (such as acid rain) to be sprayed onto test specimens.  An optional chiller for low temperature applications also allows for simultaneous control of both black panel and chamber air temperature.

Easy To Use
The Q-SUN Xe-3 xenon test chamber is easy to install (proper ventilation required).  It is easy to use and practically maintenance-free.  Specimen mounting and evaluation is fast and easy with the unique slide-out specimen tray.  The Xe-3 tester is completely automated and can operate continuously, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Other features include:
- Remarkably simple user interface in 17 user-selectable languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Czech, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese
- Built-in Ethernet connection for data logging
- Comprehensive self-diagnostic warnings and service reminders
- Quick and easy calibration with patented AUTOCAL system

Fast Results
A product exposed outdoors to direct sunlight experiences maximum light intensity for only a few hours each day.  The Q-SUN Xe-3 chamber can subject test specimens to the equivalent of noon summer sunlight for 24 hours a day, every day.  Consequently, specimen degradation can be highly accelerated.

Affordable
The Q-SUN Xe-3 tester’s low purchase price, low lamp prices and low operating costs create a breakthrough in the price/performance equation.  Now even the smallest lab can afford xenon arc testing.

Configurations (see also Features Tab)
Q-SUN Xe-3-HE: full spectrum sunlight with relative humidity control and dual touchscreen displays
Q-SUN Xe-3-HSE: full-spectrum sunlight with humidity control, water spray, and dual touchscreen displays
Q-SUN Xe-3-HDSE: full-spectrum sunlight with humidity control, dual spray, and dual touchscreen displays
Q-SUN Xe-3-HBSE: full-spectrum sunlight with humidity control, water spray (front and back), and dual touchscreen displays
Q-SUN Xe-3-HCE: full-spectrum sunlight with humidity control, chiller, and dual touchscreen displays
Q-SUN Xe-3-HSCE: full-spectrum sunlight with humidity control, water spray, chiller, and dual touchscreen displays

See LX-5046 - Q-SUN Xe-1, Xe-2 & Xe-3 Specifications or the Features Tab for comparative information.
English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Czech, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese

Full Spectrum Xenon Lamps
Xenon arc lamps give the best reproduction of full spectrum natural sunlight.  Q-Lab's lamps are air-cooled (not water-cooled), which makes them more economical, highly efficient and very low maintenance.  Standard lamps last for 1500 hours and the Xe-3 uses three lamps per machine. Enhanced lamps last for 3000 hours at normal irradiance and 1000 hours at high irradiance.

Optical Filters
A choice of optical filters is available to simulate a variety of service environments including direct sunlight and sunlight through window glass.  The performance of Q-Lab's filters not decline with age; therefore, filters do not need to be replaced under normal operation.  The only exception to this is the Window-IR filter, which requires regular replacement.  All Q-SUN Xe-3 models use three optical filters per machine.  See LX-5060 - A Choice of Filters for Q-SUN.

Temperature Monitoring & Control
Control of temperature is important because it influences the rate of degradation. Specimen exposure temperature is precisely controlled in the Q-SUN Xe-3 tester using a black panel temperature sensor.  The temperature can be set at any point between 42ºC and 120ºC, depending upon: whether the sensor is insulated or uninsulated, irradiance level, filter type, lamp age and ambient room temperature.  With an optional chiller, both black panel and chamber air temperature can be simultaneously controlled, giving the ultimate control of specimen temperature.  See LX-5000 - Q-SUN Xe-1, Xe-2 & Xe-3 Brochure.

Versatile Specimen Mounting
The flat specimen mounting tray in the Xe-3 accommodates different shapes and sizes of specimens, including three-dimensional parts.  A variety of specimen holders are available. The Xe-3 mounting tray is 451mm x 718mm and holds up to 55 specimens @ 51mm x 102mm each.  See our specimen mounting page, LX-5080-SM - Q-SUN Xe-1 & Xe-3 Specimen Mounting or Accessories Tab for more information.

SOLAR EYE Irradiance Control
The SOLAR EYE irradiance control system constantly monitors and controls lamp output.  This assures precise light exposure and maximizes reproducibility of test results. Irradiance control is available at 340nm, 420nm or TUV (Total UV).  See LX-5000 - Q-SUN Xe-1, Xe-2 & Xe-3 Brochure.

Humidity Control
Relative humidity (RH) control is standard in the Q-SUN Xe-3 model.  It allows the user to simultaneously control, monitor, and display RH, black panel temperature, and chamber air temperature.  Note that purified water is required for proper operation of the Xe-3 with humidity control.  See LX-5000 - Q-SUN Xe-1, Xe-2 & Xe-3 Brochure.

Optional Water Spray(Models Xe-3-HSE, Xe-3-DSE, Xe-3-BSE, Xe-3-HSCE)
Outdoor moisture attack is simulated via a pure water spray option in the Xe-3 tester. Two spray nozzles are located in the top of the chamber. Spray can be programmed to operate during either the dark or light cycle.  Note that purified water is required for proper operation of the Xe-3 with water spray.  See LX-5000 - Q-SUN Xe-1, Xe-2 & Xe-3 Brochure.

Optional Back Spray(Model Xe-3-BSE)
Back spray is available for the Xe-3 tester and is required by some SAE test methods; it allows water to be sprayed on both the front and back of specimens simultaneously. Note that purified water is required for proper operation of the Xe-3 with back spray.

Optional Dual Spray (Model Xe-3-DSE)
Dual spray is available for the Xe-3 tester. It allows a second liquid solution, such as acid rain or soap solution, to be sprayed onto test specimens. A large external reservoir, centrifugal pump and filter are attached to a portable cart that sits next to the Xe-3 tester.  See LX-5025a - Acid Etch for Auto.

Optional Chiller for Low Temperature Applications (Model Xe-3-HSCE)
For some interior products such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, lower exposure temperatures are necessary to prevent unnatural degradation. An optional chiller is available for the Xe-3 tester to lower temperatures when testing such heat sensitive materials.  See LX-5000 - Q-SUN Xe-1, Xe-2 & Xe-3 Brochure.  With a chiller, a Q-SUN Xe-3 tester can operate at 31-120ºC and 50% RH, depending upon sensor type, irradiance level, filter type, lamp age, and ambient room temperature and humidity. The Xe-3 chiller is designed to stand alongside the full-sized Xe-3 tester, and is provided with wheels for easy repositioning.

Controls & Optional Software
The Dual Touchscreen Display is designed to be both functional and easy to use, the Q-SUN Xe-3 controller can be programmed in 17 user-selectable languages (English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Czech, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese) and includes complete self-diagnostic error checking. The controller constantly monitors the status and performance of all systems. It also displays simple warning messages, routine service reminders or performs safety shutdown, as needed. 

An external USB port on every Q-SUN Xe-3 tester allows users to perform software upgrades quickly to address key performance issues. For quality systems that require documented proof of test conditions, this USB port can also be used to download tester performance history. Additionally, every Q-SUN Xe-3 tester is equipped with an Ethernet connection. Optional VIRTUAL STRIPCHART PC software allows the user to automatically record and monitor exposure conditions and directly transfer data from the Q-SUN Xe-3 test chamber to a Windows-based computer.  Data from either the USB export or PC application can be emailed directly to Q-Lab's technical support desk for expert troubleshooting and diagnostics.

Sunlight Simulation
The Q-SUN Xe-3 tester’s xenon arc lamps produce the most realistic reproduction of full spectrum sunlight including ultraviolet, visible light and infrared radiation. For many materials, exposure to the full spectrum is necessary to provide an accurate simulation, especially when testing for color change and lightfastness.  See LX-5000 - Q-SUN Xe-1, Xe-2 & Xe-3 Brochure.

Standard and "Plus" Lamps
The Q-SUN Xe-3 tester uses three, air-cooled xenon arc lamp. It significantly reduces operating and maintenance expenses compared to water-cooled lamps. Typical lamp life for a standard lamp is 1500 hours at normal irradiance. Plus lamps are available that allow for improved lamp life, as well as the ability to test at high irradiance. These lamps typically last for 3000 hours at normal irradiance, and 1000 hours at high irradiance.

Changing the Xe-3 lamps is quick and easy – it is easily accessible from the top of the tester.  Replacement only requires the user to open an access door, release a set screw, and remove the trigger finger.  The lamp and lamp housing can then be simply lifted out of the tester.  See LX-5000 - Q-SUN Xe-1, Xe-2 & Xe-3 Brochure.

A Choice of Optical Filters to Simulate a Variety of Environments
Xenon light must be properly filtered to achieve the appropriate spectrum for each particular application.  Differences in spectra may affect both the speed and the type of degradation.  Three categories of filters are available to simulate a variety of service environments, shown below.  The application or test method dictates which filters should be used.  See LU-8054a - SPD for QUV, Q-SUN, and Noon Summer Sunlight.

Daylight Filters
Daylight filters are used to simulate direct, noon summer sunlight They provide the best correlation to natural exposures for most applications.  Materials that are typically used outdoors like roofing or exterior coatings should be tested using daylight filters.  Three different types of daylight filters are available for the Q-SUN Xe-3 tester:  Daylight - F, Daylight - Q and Daylight - B/B. Daylight-Q and Daylight-F filters meet the specifications of Type I Daylight filters described in ASTM and ISO standards. Daylight-B/B filters are classified as Type II Daylight filters.

Window Glass Filters
Window glass filters produce spectra equivalent to sunlight coming through window glass.  This spectrum can also simulate other indoor lighting such as the harsh lighting found in a typical commercial or office environment.  Window glass filters are used for indoor materials such as printing materials and textiles.  Four different window glass filters are available for the Q-SUN Xe-3 tester:  Window - Q, Window - B/SL, Window - SF-5 and Window - IR.

Extended UV Filters
Extended UV filters allow excess UV, below the normal cut-on of natural sunlight.  They are used to produce faster or more severe test results.  Extended UV filters are specified in some automotive test methods and are sometimes used for aerospace applications. The most common Q-SUN filter of this type is the Extended UV - Q/B.

The Q-SUN Xe-3 tester’s long-life filters are exceptionally durable and maintain the required spectrum indefinitely.  After many years of use, Q-SUN filters have yet to show any signs of aging.  See LX-5060 - A Choice of Filters for Q-SUN for a more detailed discussion of optical filters, but the information above can be a useful guide.

Easy Calibration Assures Accuracy
The Q-SUN Xe-3 black panel temperature sensor needs to be calibrated periodically by the user.  This assures accurate and consistent results.

Calibrating the Xe-3 black panel temperature sensor is simple using the Universal Calibrator system’s UC202 calibrated temperature sensor and UC1 handheld display, or the historical CT202 calibrated thermometer, and takes only a few minutes.  Note that the CT202 and UC202 thermometers come with either an uninsulated black panel (UC202/BP, CT202/BP) or insulated black panel (UC202/IBP, CT202/IBP) sensor.  This sensor must match the type of sensor actually used in the Xe-3 tester.  The Xe-3 tester's low-cost, combination relative humidity/chamber air temperature sensor is designed to be replaced once a year and cannot be recalibrated.

Calibration of the UC202 and CT202 thermometers needs to be performed annually. The UC202 thermometers were designed to be disposable and cost-efficient, and should be replaced annually with a  freshly-calibrated UC202. The CT202 Thermometer needs to be returned to Q-Lab once per year for an inexpensive recalibration. UC202 units may also be returned for calibration for users who prefer recalibration to replacement. See our Recalibration Return Procedure.  Q-Lab’s calibration labs are ISO 17025 accredited by the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA - Ohio Certificate Number 2382-01, China Certificate Number 2383-02, and England Certificate Number 2383-03).  Calibrations are traceable to the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Easy Calibration Assures Accuracy
The Q-SUN Xe-3 SOLAR EYE irradiance sensor needs to be calibrated periodically by the user to assure accurate and consistent results.

Calibrating the Xe-3 tester is simple using the Universal Calibrator system’s UC20 calibration radiometer or the legacy CR20 calibration radiometer, and takes only a few minutes.  Both UC20 and CR20 devices come with a 340nm, 420nm, or 300-400nm TUV (Total UV) sensor and must match the type of sensor actually used in the Q-SUN tester. CR20 calibration radiometers must also match the optical filter in use in the Q-SUN.

Calibration of the UC20 and CR20 radiometers needs to be performed annually. The UC20 sensors were designed to be disposable and cost-efficient, and should be replaced annually with a  freshly-calibrated UC20. The CR20 radiometer needs to be returned to Q-Lab once per year for an inexpensive recalibration. UC20 units may also be returned for calibration for users who prefer recalibration to replacement.  See our  Recalibration Return Procedure.  Our calibration labs are ISO 17025 accredited by the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA - Ohio Certificate Number 2382-01, China Certificate Number 2383-02, and England Certificate Number 2383-03).  Calibrations are traceable to the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

TECHNICAL BULLETINS
LU-0822 - Sunlight, Weathering, Light Stability
LU-0833 - QUV & Q-SUN Correlation FAQs
LU-8009 - QUV & Q-SUN: A Comparison
LU-8010 - Controlled Irradiance in Testing
LU-8030 - Errors Caused by Using Joules
LU-8054 - SPD for Noon Summer Sunlight
LW-6049 - Importance of Water Purity in Testers
LX-5020 - Rotating vs. Static Xenon I
LX-5021 - Rotating vs. Static Xenon II
LX-5024 - Rotating and Static Xenon Testers Compared
LX-5025 - Accelerated Acid Etch for Auto
LX-5026 - Quantifying Indoor Light
LX-5029 - Accelerated Acid Etch II
LX-5054 - Standards Met by Q-SUN Testers
LX-5060 - A Choice of Filters for Q-SUN
LX-5104 - A Comparison between Carbon Arc and Xenon Arc Accelerated Weathering Testing

TECHNICAL ARTICLES
LL-9033 - Outdoor Weathering Must Verify
LU-8021 - Polyester Weatherability
LU-8027 - Correlating Lab & Natural for Sealants
LW-6039 - Accelerated Weathering of Vinyl Siding
LW-6041 - The Myth of Reciprocity
LW-6043 - Assessing the Weatherability of Plastics
LW-6045 - Lightfastness & Weatherability
LW-6046 - Advances in Testing Weathering Resistance
LX-5016 - ASTM D7869 is a Weathering Test Revolution
LX-5017 - Q-Lab & ASTM Standards
LX-5018 - Accelerated Testing for 21st Century
LX-5022 - Light Stability & Service Life
LX-5023 - Lightfastness Studies of Inks
LX-5025a - Accelerated Acid Etch for Auto
LX-5030 - Automotive Xenon Test Methods
LX-5032 - Water in Xenon Testing for Auto Coatings
LX-5037 - Accelerated Weathering for Better Results
LX-5064 - Fade Resistance of Inks

PRODUCT BROCHURES
L-4061 - Q-Lab Products & Services Summary
LW-6000 - General Testing Guide
LX-5000 - Q-SUN Xe-1, Xe-2 & Xe-3 Brochure
LX-5002 - Q-SUN Xe-3-HDS Dual Spray
LX-5014 - Q-SUN ICH Guidelines Brochure
LX-5051 - Q-SUN Xe-3 Back Spray
LX-5077 - Replacement Lamps & Filters for Atlas

SPECIFICATION BULLETINS
L-3000 - Universal Calibrator (UC) Specifications
L-4035 - VIRTUAL STRIPCHART Bulletin
LW-6048 - Water Repurification System
LX-5046 - Q-SUN Xe-1, Xe-2 & Xe-3 Specifications
LX-5047 - Q-SUN Sample Mounting
LX-5070 - Product Safety Data Sheet Xenon Lamps

EQUIPMENT OPERATING MANUALS
Operating manuals have moved to Q-Portal, Q-Lab’s new customer portal. Please login to Q-Portal using your Q-Lab.com username and password, or create a new account and register your equipment to access your manual.

 

Q-FOG Cyclic Corrosion Testers

Q-FOG SSP & CCT Cyclic Corrosion Testers

Cyclic corrosion testing provides the best possible laboratory simulation of natural atmospheric corrosion. Research indicates that test results are similar to outdoors in resulting structure, morphology, and relative corrosion rates. Q-FOG cyclic corrosion chambers from Q-Lab can run traditional salt spray, Prohesion, and most cyclic automotive tests. Q-FOG chambers are available in two sizes to fulfill a wide range of testing requirements. Q-FOG cyclic corrosion testers are the simplest, most reliable, and easiest to use corrosion testers available.

Cyclic Corrosion Testing
Prior to cyclic corrosion testing, conventional salt spray (a continuous salt spray at 35˚C), was the standard way to simulate corrosion in a lab.   Because conventional salt spray methods failed to mimic the natural wet/dry cycles of the outdoors, test results frequently provided poor correlation to outdoors. 

In a Q-FOG cyclic corrosion tester, specimens are exposed to a series of different environments in a repetitive cycle that mimics the outdoors.  Simple cycles, such as Prohesion, may consist of cycling between salt fog and dry conditions.  More sophisticated automotive methods may call for multi-step cycles that incorporate humidity or condensation, along with salt spray and dry-off.  

Within one Q-FOG chamber, it is possible to cycle through a series of the most significant corrosion environments.  Even extremely complex test cycles can easily be programmed with the Q-FOG controller. See LF-8110 - Q-FOG Specifications or visit our standards page for a detailed list of test methods met by the Q-FOG chamber. 

Models
Q-FOG corrosion test chambers are available in two types. Model SSP performs traditional salt spray and Prohesion tests. Model CCT performs salt spray, Prohesion, and 100% humidity for most cyclic automotive tests.
- Q-FOG SSP-600: conventional salt spray and Prohesion tests, 640 liter chamber volume
- Q-FOG SSP-1100: conventional salt spray and Prohesion tests, 1103 liter chamber volume
- Q-FOG CCT-600:  conventional salt spray, Prohesion, and 100% humidity, 640 liter chamber volume
- Q-FOG CCT-1100: conventional salt spray, Prohesion, and 100% humidity, 1103 liter chamber volume

See LF-8110 - Q-FOG Specifications for comparative information, or see the Features Tab.

Model SSP for Prohesion or Conventional Salt Spray Tests
The Q-FOG SSP corrosion tester can perform numerous accelerated corrosion tests, including continuous salt spray (ASTM B117 and ISO 9227) and Prohesion (ASTM G85 Annex 5).  Visit our standards page or see LF-8131 - Partial List of Standards Met by Q-FOG for more information.

The Prohesion test uses fast cycling, rapid temperature changes, a low humidity dry-off cycle and a different corrosive solution to provide a more realistic test.  Many researchers have found this test useful for industrial maintenance coatings.

Continuous salt spray exposures are widely specified for testing components and coatings for corrosion resistance.  Applications include plated and painted finishes, aerospace and military components, and electrical/electronic systems.

Most of these tests are performed to particular specifications such as ASTM B117 (Salt Spray), and BS 3900 F4. These tests are widely used for relative corrosion testing.  They are typically run at an elevated temperature and do not incorporate a dry-off cycle.  They require heated, humidified air for the spray.

Model CCT for Corrosion Research and Cyclic Automotive Tests
The Q-FOG model CCT has all the advantages of the model SSP, but adds the flexibility of including 100% humidity.
Automotive corrosion test methods typically call for exposing specimens to a repetitive cycle of salt spray, high humidity, low humidity dry-off, and ambient conditions. These test methods were originally developed as labor intensive manual procedures.  The multi-functional Q-FOG CCT corrosion tester is designed to perform these cyclic tests automatically in a single chamber. Additionally, the CCT model is able to run Copper-Accelerated Acetic-Acid Salt Spray (CASS) tests such as ASTM B368 or ISO 9227 CASS.

Q-FOG model CCT advantages include the elimination of:
- manual moving of test specimens from one chamber to another
- laborious spraying of test specimens
- variability in results from excessive specimen handling

Precise Control of Fog Dispersion
The Q-FOG cyclic corrosion chamber has superior fog dispersion compared to conventional systems, which cannot vary volume and distance independently.  A variable speed peristaltic pump controls the amount of corrosive solution delivered to the spray atomizer, while the air pressure regulator controls the distance of the “throw.”  Note that purified water is required for proper operation of Q-FOG corrosion testers. 

Solution Reservoir
Space utilization is maximized and maintenance is minimized with the Q-FOG tester's internal solution reservoir. The 120 liter reservoir has enough capacity for running most tests for 7 days or more. The reservoir has an integral salt filter and a built-in alarm to alert the operator when the solution is low. The integrated reservoir can optionally be connected to an external tank.

Fast Cycling
Q-FOG testers can change temperatures exceptionally fast because of their unique internal chamber heater and their high volume cooling/dry-off blower. An additional air heater allows very low humidity dry-off exposures. Conventional chambers with water jackets cannot cycle rapidly because of the thermal mass of the water, nor can they produce low humidity.

Easy Programming and Specimen Mounting
The Q-FOG test chamber is designed to cycle between four conditions: Fog, Dry-Off, 100% Humidity (Model CCT only), and Dwell.  Test conditions, time, and temperature are controlled by a built-in microprocessor.  A remarkably simple user interface featuring dual, full-color touch-screens allows for easy user programming and operation in 17 languages.  The operator can quickly create new cycles, or run any of the pre-programmed cycles.  The Q-FOG controller includes complete self-diagnostics, including warning messages, routine service reminders and safety shut down.

Q-FOG CRH units come equipped with a viewing window in the side of the lid and an internal light to allow easy monitoring of the test conditions.

Q-FOG testers have a low belt line and an easy-opening lid for easy sample mounting. The SSP-600 and CCT-600 models have a capacity of up to 160 test panels of 75 mm × 15 mm in size.  The SSP-1100 and CCT-1100 models have a capacity of up to 240 test panels.

Affordable
Q-FOG cyclic corrosion testers offer state of the art corrosion testing technology, reliability, ease of operation and easy maintenance – all at a remarkably affordable price.

TECHNICAL BULLETINS
LF-8131 - Standards Met by Q-FOG Testers
LF-8144 - Introduction to Cyclic Corrosion Testing
LF-8151-SM - Q-FOG Specimen Mounting
LW-6049 - Importance of Water Purity in Testers

TECHNICAL ARTICLES
LF-8115 - Evaluation of Organic Coatings
LF-8116 - New Era in Corrosion Testing
LF-8117 - RH and Temp Control in Standards
LF-8120 - Prohesion vs. Salt Spray Testing
LF-8137 - Atmospheric Corrosion Tests
LF-8140 - Accelerated Corrosion of Paints
LF-8147 - Marine Performance from Salt Fog
LF-8148 - Test Methods for Bridge Coatings
LF-8149 - Performance of Industrial Coatings
LF-8160 - Combined Corrosion & Weathering
LU-8020 - Correlating Lab to Natural for Gloss
LU-8027 - Correlating Lab & Natural for Sealants
LW-6041 - The Myth of Reciprocity

PRODUCT BROCHURES
L-4061 - Q-Lab Products & Services Summary
LF-8101 - Q-FOG Brochure

SPECIFICATION BULLETINS
L-4035 - VIRTUAL STRIPCHART Bulletin
LF-8110 - Q-FOG Specifications
LP-0862 C - Corrosion Test Coupons

EQUIPMENT OPERATING MANUALS
Operating manuals have moved to Q-Portal, Q-Lab’s new customer portal. Please login to Q-Portal using your Q-Lab.com username and password, or create a new account and register your equipment to access your manual.
 

Q-FOG CRH Cyclic Corrosion Testers

Cyclic corrosion testing provides the best possible laboratory simulation of natural atmospheric corrosion. Research indicates that cyclic corrosion testing results are similar to outdoor environments in resulting structure, morphology, and relative corrosion rates. Q-FOG CRH cyclic corrosion chambers can perform traditional salt spray, Prohesion, and nearly all cyclic automotive tests. They feature fully-adjustable relative humidity and precise control over ramp times. An optional shower function is also available in center-mounted or overhead (top-mounted) configuration. Q-FOG CRH chambers are available in two sizes to fulfill a wide range of testing requirements. Rapid Ramp Heater capability enables performance of automotive corrosion tests that have very fast transition times. Q-FOG CRH cyclic corrosion testers are the simplest, most reliable, and easiest to use RH-controlled corrosion chambers available.

Cyclic Corrosion Testing
The Q-FOG model CRH represents a true breakthrough in the price-to-performance ratio of corrosion testers with RH control. It can perform most major automotive corrosion test standards, such as GMW 14872, SAE J2334, and many others from Ford, ISO, GB/T, VW, Volvo, Chrysler, Renault, JASO, and others.

The tester has all the features and advantages required in cyclic corrosion testers, as well as full variable humidity control through the use of an innovative air preconditioner. Additionally, the CRH model includes a Shower Function that can be used interchangeably with traditional salt fog. With the Shower Function, spray droplets are much bigger, flow rates are much higher, and shower times are much shorter than the traditional atomized mist in the Salt Fog Function. The Shower function is available in a configuration mounted in the center (stationary), or as a top-mounted swaying shower bar to meet the mandatory language in some key corrosion tests. The CRH tester features an advanced cleaning feature for spray nozzles that prevents the clogging frequently found in competitive chambers.
Within one Q-FOG CRH chamber, it is possible to cycle through a series of the most significant corrosion environments. Even extremely complex test cycles can easily be programmed with the Q-FOG controller. See LF-8131 – Standards Met by Q-FOG Testers or visit our standards page for a detailed list of test methods met by the Q-FOG CRH chamber.

Models
- Q-FOG CRH600-HSC (or 1100-HSC): conventional salt fog and Prohesion tests, humidity control, stationary shower module, 640 liter (or 1103 liter) chamber volume
- Q-FOG CRH600-HSCR (or 1100-HSCR): conventional salt fog and Prohesion tests, humidity control, stationary shower module, fast temperature and relative humidity transitions, 640 liter (or 1103 liter) chamber volume
- Q-FOG CRH600-HTC (or 1100-HTC): conventional salt fog and Prohesion tests, humidity control, top-mounted swaying shower bar, 640 liter (or 1103 liter) chamber volume
- Q-FOG CRH600-HTCR (or 1100-HTCR): conventional salt fog and Prohesion tests, humidity control, top-mounted swaying shower bar, fast temperature and relative humidity transitions, 640 liter (or 1103 liter) chamber volume
See LF-8110 - Q-FOG Specifications for comparative information, or see the Features Tab.

RH and Shower Functions
The Q-FOG model CRH can ramp to and maintain a defined RH value and temperature through the use of an air preconditioner, an air control module, and special atomizing humidification nozzles. Deionized (DI) water is required for proper operation. 
The Shower Function in the Q-FOG CRH is used for some automotive test specifications. A user-adjustable volume of solution is uniformly sprayed onto specimens through specially positioned spray nozzles.  The Shower Function offers the following advantages:
- Nozzles are mounted to either a stationary shower module in the chamber center or a top-mounted swaying shower bar. The stationary shower module can be easily removed when using the Fog Function
- Spray droplets are much bigger, flow rates are much higher, and shower times are much shorter than the atomized solution mist in the Fog Function
- Shower on/off times can be directly programmed to allow for excellent control of corrosion rates

Precise Control of Fog Dispersion
The Q-FOG CRH cyclic corrosion chamber has superior fog dispersion compared to conventional systems, which cannot vary volume and distance independently.  A variable speed peristaltic pump controls the amount of corrosive solution delivered to the fog atomizer, while the air pressure regulator controls the distance of the “throw.”  Note that purified water is required for proper operation of Q-FOG corrosion testers.

Solution Reservoir
Space utilization is maximized and maintenance is minimized with the Q-FOG tester's internal solution reservoir. The 120 liter reservoir has enough capacity for running most tests for 7 days or more. The reservoir has an integral particulate filter and a built-in alarm to alert the operator when the solution is low. The integrated reservoir can optionally be connected to an external tank.

Rapid Ramp Heater for Fast Temperature and RH Cycling
Q-FOG testers can change temperatures exceptionally fast because of their unique internal chamber heater and their high volume cooling/dry-off blower. An additional air heater allows very low humidity dry-off exposures. Conventional chambers with water jackets cannot cycle rapidly because of the thermal mass of the water, nor can they produce low humidity.

If fast heating or dry-off conditions are required, as prescribed in test standards ISO 11997 and automotive CCT-type tests like JASO M609, the CRH model can be configured with Rapid Ramp Heaters. This Rapid Ramp Heater system enables quick temperature and relative humidity transition in a fully- loaded chamber in order to meet these demanding automotive test standards unconditionally.

Calibration
The Q-FOG CRH tester’s chamber temperature and RH sensors should be calibrated by the user every six months to ensure accurate and consistent results.

Calibrating the temperature and RH sensors takes only a few minutes. It requires simple tools, a calibrated reference thermometer, and an insulated container.

Easy Programming and Specimen Mounting
Test conditions, time, and temperature are controlled by a built-in microprocessor.  A remarkably simple user interface featuring dual, full-color touch-screens allows for easy programming and operation in 17 languages.  The operator can quickly create new cycles, or run any of the pre-programmed cycles.  The Q-FOG controller includes complete self-diagnostics, including warning messages, routine service reminders, and safety shutdown. 

Q-FOG CRH units come equipped with a viewing window in the side of the lid and an internal light to allow easy monitoring of the test conditions.

Q-FOG testers have a low belt line and an easy-opening lid for easy specimen mounting.  For Q-FOG testers with the stationary shower module (“S” models), the 600 model has a capacity of 160 test panels of 75 × 150 mm in size.  The 1100 model has a capacity of 240 test panels. For Q-FOG testers with the top-mounted swaying shower bar (“T” models), the 1100 model has a capacity of 230 test panels.

Affordable
Q-FOG cyclic corrosion testers offer state of the art corrosion testing technology, reliability, ease of operation, and easy maintenance – all at a remarkably affordable price.

TECHNICAL BULLETINS
LF-8131 - Standards Met by Q-FOG Testers
LF-8144 - Introduction to Cyclic Corrosion Testing
LF-8151-SM - Q-FOG Specimen Mounting
LW-6049 - Importance of Water Purity in Testers

TECHNICAL ARTICLES
LF-8115 - Evaluation of Organic Coatings
LF-8116 - New Era in Corrosion Testing
LF-8117 - RH and Temp Control in Standards
LF-8120 - Prohesion vs. Salt Spray Testing
LF-8137 - Atmospheric Corrosion Tests
LF-8140 - Accelerated Corrosion of Paints
LF-8147 - Marine Performance from Salt Fog
LF-8148 - Test Methods for Bridge Coatings
LF-8149 - Performance of Industrial Coatings
LF-8160 - Combined Corrosion & Weathering
LU-8020 - Correlating Lab to Natural for Gloss
LU-8027 - Correlating Lab & Natural for Sealants
LW-6041 - The Myth of Reciprocity

PRODUCT BROCHURES
L-4061 - Q-Lab Products & Services Summary
LF-8101 - Q-FOG Brochure

SPECIFICATION BULLETINS
L-4035 - VIRTUAL STRIPCHART Bulletin
LF-8110 - Q-FOG Specifications
LP-0862 C - Corrosion Test Coupons

EQUIPMENT OPERATING MANUALS
Operating manuals have moved to Q-Portal, Q-Lab’s new customer portal. Please login to Q-Portal using your Q-Lab.com username and password, or create a new account and register your equipment to access your manual.
 

Q-PANEL Corrosion Coupons

For over 50 years, Q-PANEL test substrates have been recognized as the world standard for a consistent and uniform test surface for paints, plating, adhesives, sealants, rust inhibitors and other coatings. This consistency and uniformity is now available through Q-Lab’s CX-series corrosion test coupons.

Corrosion test coupons ensure repeatability and reproducibility when performing laboratory corrosion testing. They help a user independently monitor the test conditions in the chamber, by measuring the mass loss of the coupons as the test progresses. CX corrosion coupons are designed to meet the stringent requirements specified in modern corrosion test methods, such as GMW14872, GM9540P, SAE J2334, SAE J2721, ASTM B117, ISO 9227, and VDA-233-102.

All Q-PANEL CX-series corrosion coupons include Certificate of Analysis, come pre-cleaned and ready to use right out of the package. This allows the user to simply measure the panels and place them in the tester, saving time and effort. And best of all, CX corrosion coupons are often half the price of competitors’ coupons.

Why do Corrosion Testing?
The estimated direct cost of corrosion effects in the United States alone is estimated at almost $300 billion annually – for this reason, it is critical for manufacturers to understand their products’ resistance to corrosive environments.  Corrosion test standards are used widely to address this issue, but for this corrosion testing to be of value, laboratories need to verify their testing is reliable and reproducible.

What are Corrosion Coupons?
Corrosion coupons (also known as mass-loss coupons) are standardized thin steel panels that serve as reference specimens in corrosion testing.  They help a user verify the rate of corrosion in corrosion chambers and serve as independent test monitoring devices. Q-Lab’s CX-series of standard corrosion test coupons are ideally suited for this application – they are consistent, clean, convenient, and cost-effective. 

Consistent
Surface inconsistencies, such as variations in steel roller condition, carbon dust impurity, rust caused by handling errors, and long storage times can affect the consistency of corrosion mass-loss. As a result, ordinary steel is unsuitable for many corrosion tests. Q-Lab’s CX-series steel corrosion coupons minimize metal variability as a source of bias in critical corrosion tests, due to three key factors:
- volume metal purchasing from select mills
- automated production on a high-speed line
- rigorous inspection at several processing stages 

Clean
The Q-Lab CX corrosion coupon production process thoroughly cleans panels and removes any oil from the surface. Special handling assures all panels are completely clean when packaged.  Corrosion coupons are packed in plastic bags with vapor phase rust inhibitor, preserving the high degree of surface quality for a long shelf life. 

Convenient
For your safety and ease of handling, all Q-PANEL corrosion coupons have deburred edges, and some versions have rounded edges (depending on the requirements of the appropriate standard). Corrosion coupons are supplied pre-cleaned – in fact, Q-Lab’s cleaning and packaging quality allow you to use CX corrosion coupons right out of the package, without compromising test consistency. 
Furthermore, CX corrosion coupons are tailored to meet the requirements of major national, international, and manufacturer corrosion test standards without any modification – just plug and play. 

Cost-effective
Because of high volume production and Q-Lab’s decades-long history as the leader in standardized test substrates, CX corrosion coupons cost much less than you might expect – often half the pricing of competitors.  Purchasing pre-cleaned corrosion coupons reduces the time lab personnel must spend cleaning and handling panels, saving further costs.

Q-Lab offers three different steel Corrosion Coupons as standard items, typically in-stock. These three product offerings are designed specifically to meet the requirements of some of the most prevalent industry-standard test methods for evaluating corrosion. 
CXB-12

These corrosion coupons are made from SAE1008-1010 carbon steel, measuring 25 x 51 x 3 mm (1 × 2 × 0.125”).  They come standard with rounded corners and a Q-shaped center hole and plastic mounting hardware for convenience. CXB-12 coupons are designed for testing to important corrosion standards like GMW14872, GM9540P, and SAE J2334.
CXC-35

Q-Lab’s CXC-35 Corrosion Coupons are 76 x 127 x 0.8mm  (3 × 5 × 0.032") panels made from SAE1008 commercial-grade, cold-rolled carbon steel. CXC-35 corrosion coupons meet all of the requirements of the ASTM B117 salt fog corrosion test standard.
CXD-2.76-5.90

Measuring 70 × 150 × 1.2 mm ( 2.76 × 5.90 × 0.047") of CR-4 grade steel, CXD-2.76-5.90 corrosion coupons meet the test requirements set out in standards ISO 9227 and VDA-233-102.

Custom Panels
In addition to our standard corrosion coupons above, we can also make custom corrosion coupons in a variety of shapes, sizes, alloys, and finishes, not shown on our specification bulletin. Send us your custom specifications for a quote.

TECHNICAL BULLETINS
LP-0867 - Q-PANEL Applications Guide
LP-0880 - Steel: The Problem of a Standardized Surface

PRODUCT BROCHURES
L-4061 - Q-Lab Products & Services Summary
LP-0860 - Q-PANEL Brochure

SPECIFICATION BULLETINS
LP-0862 A - Q-PANEL Steel & Iron Phos Spec Bulletin
LP-0862 B - Q-PANEL Aluminum Specification Bulletin
LP-0862 C - Corrosion Test Coupons

EQUIPMENT OPERATING MANUALS
Operating manuals have moved to Q-Portal, Q-Lab’s new customer portal. Please login to Q-Portal using your Q-Lab.com username and password, or create a new account and register your equipment to access your manual.

 

QCT CONDENSATION TESTER

The QCT condensation tester - The Original Cleveland Cabinet™- was first introduced in 1956.The QCT condensation tester simulates the damaging effects of outdoor moisture attack by condensing warm water directly onto test specimens. In a few days or weeks, the QCT tester can reproduce the damage due to moisture that occurs over months or years outdoors. The QCT tester is fast, easy to use and affordable. It uses 100% condensing humidity to simulate and accelerate damage caused by rain and dew on metals, paints, and organic materials. It accelerates over natural exposures by increasing moisture temperature. The QCT tester replaces water immersion and ordinary (non-condensing) humidity tests. The QCT condensation tester is used in thousands of labs in over 50 countries. It is the simplest, most reliable, and easiest to use condensation tester available.

Effects of Outdoor Moisture
Water is a common enemy to most materials.  It causes metals to corrode, organics to decompose, and structures to disintegrate. Condensation is water that has been distilled from impure water, mixed with the atmosphere, and saturated with oxygen.  This type of moisture has also been called “aggressive water”, because it carries oxygen with it as it contacts a material or diffuses through a coating.  Studies show that materials outdoors are exposed to an average of 12 hours per day of condensed water in the form of dew.

The QCT Condensation Tester
The QCT tester uses 100% condensing humidity to simulate and accelerate damage caused by dew on metals, paints, and organic materials.  It accelerates over natural exposures by increasing moisture temperature.

The QCT tester requires only ordinary tap water.  This is because the tap water becomes pure distilled water in the process of evaporation from the water pan and condensing onto the specimens.

The tester's innovative design utilizes room air cooling to create a temperature differential across the thickness of the specimens.  This temperature differential is a necessary element for condensation to occur.  It is important to note that the QCT tester is fundamentally different from a typical humidity tester, although optional humidity enclosure boxes can be used with the QCT to reproduce enclosed humidity testing.

Variable Exposure Cycles
The user is able to program the QCT tester to create static, 100% condensing humidity or to cycle between hot condensation and dry-off.  The temperature’s range extends from room temperature to as high as 70 degrees Celsius.  The system allows for the selection of almost any desired wet/dry exposure cycle through a programmable interface.  The cycle options range from the subtle wetness of an almost invisible dew a few degrees above room temperature, to a continuous, high-temperature, running condensate.
Freezing accelerates some failures.  For a freeze/thaw cycle, panels can be manually removed from the QCT while wet and immediately frozen, and then reinserted into the tester.

Fast and Versatile
The QCT tester can be used to:
- screen paints for blister resistance over a weekend at 55 degrees Celsius
- evaluate oil-based rust inhibitors in less than 120 hours at 38 degrees Celsius
- rate effectiveness of mill-applied oils in only a day
- test surface reactivity of cold-rolled and galvanized steel in hours
- test wood finishes for blistering, moisture and mold resistance

Easy to Use, Simple to Install
The QCT tester provides instant blister or corrosion testing - just plug it in and add water.  The unit can be placed anywhere in your office, lab, or plant.  The heat and water vapor produced by the QCT tester is about the same as that produced by one additional person in the room.  Also, the test panels on a QCT unit may be inspected as often as you want, without altering test conditions.  Just remove the panel and put a blank in its place.

Standards
The QCT tester conforms with several standards, including:
- ASTM D4585, Testing Moisture Resistance of Coatings with Controlled Condensation
- ISO 6270-1, Paints and Varnishes - Condensation (single-sided exposure)
- ISO 6270-2, Paints and Varnishes - Condensation (in-cabinet exposure with heated water reservoir)
- BS 3900, Part F9, Determination of Resistance to Humidity (Continuous Condensation)   

The QCT tester has an programmable dry-off system, which works by blowing heated air into the test chamber. A combination of wet and dry periods can be programmed through the use of full-color touchscreen display. Temperature is controlled through an easily-calibrated chamber air temperature sensor.

The QCT tester has a sample capacity of 62 Panels at 75mm x 150mm or 48 panels at 100 x 150mm.  It has a temperature range capability from room temperature to 72 degrees Celsius.

The QCT tester’s water consumption is approximately 2 liters of ordinary tap water per day.  It has an automatic water feed that connects to a supply through 6mm plastic tubing.  It has a corrosion-resistant anodized aluminum construction, with a water pan that is glass-lined with a magnesium anode for cathodic protection.

Accessories
The QCT condensation tester can also be equipped with optional humidity enclosure boxes on both sides. This allows for fully-enclosed humidity cabinet exposures as described in ISO 6270-2.

TECHNICAL BULLETINS
LC-0871 - QCT Tester and Why It Works

TECHNICAL ARTICLES
LL-9033 - Outdoor Weathering Must Verify
LU-0824 - Correlating Lab to Natural Weathering
LU-8020 - Correlating Lab to Natural for Gloss
LU-8027 - Correlating Lab & Natural for Sealants
LW-6041 - The Myth of Reciprocity

PRODUCT BROCHURES
L-4061 - Q-Lab Products & Services Summary
LC-0870 - QCT Brochure

SPECIFICATION BULLETINS
LC-0872 - QCT Specifications

EQUIPMENT OPERATING MANUALS
Operating manuals have moved to Q-Portal, Q-Lab’s new customer portal. Please login to Q-Portal using your Q-Lab.com username and password, or create a new account and register your equipment to access your manual.

 

Q-RACK OUTDOOR EXPOSURE RACKS

Q-RACK outdoor exposure racks are the same aluminum racks that are used at Q-Lab Florida and Q-Lab Arizona to perform natural outdoor exposure tests. Now you can buy these professional quality racks to perform exposures at your own site. The durable Q-RACK design has been proven over decades of harsh subtropical and desert exposures. The racks are versatile, dependable, and affordable, and come in kit form for easy assembly. Q-RACK kits, accessories and non-standard mounting systems are available for different applications and testing requirements. They meet ISO, ASTM, SAE and other international standards for outdoor testing. The Q-RACK frame may be positioned at 0°, 5°, 45° or 90°.

Q-RACK Outdoor Exposure Racks
Q-RACK outdoor exposure rack kits are available in two types: direct exposure and under glass exposure.  See LR-3001 - Q-RACK Brochure for photos and more detailed information.

In direct exposure racks, specimens are directly exposed to the environment.  It is the most common method for testing coatings, inks, plastics, or finishes used outdoors.  Most typical test specimens can be easily mounted on a Q-RACK direct exposure system.  Our direct exposure rack kits meet the requirements of ISO 877-2 Method A, ASTM G7, ASTM D4141, or SAE J1976.  Be sure to visit our Standards Page for other information about relevant standards for Q-RACK systems or our other products and services.

Under glass exposure racks are primarily used to test automotive interior materials.  Specimens are exposed to sunlight behind special glass panels.

Direct Exposure Rack Kits:
- FL-3049-K     Welded Frame Direct Exposure Rack Kit  – North America Shipment Only
- FL-3055-K     Knock Down Frame Direct Exposure Rack Kit – Available for Shipment Globally
- FL-3120-K     Black Box Direct Exposure Rack Kit – North America Shipment Only

Under Glass Exposure Rack Kits:
- FL-3086-K     Under Glass Exposure Rack Kit – North America Shipment Only
- FL-3121-K     Black Box Under Glass Exposure Rack Kit  – North America Shipment Only

Q-RACK Direct Exposure Rack Kits
Q-RACK direct exposure rack systems feature two legs and an anodized aluminum main frame measuring 3.66 x 1.68 x 0.10m. Both welded frames and unassembled “knock-down” frames are available, depending on your shipping location.  Panel base and flap assemblies hold panels in place and may be adjusted to fit various sizes of test specimens. Q-RACK direct exposure rack kits have one panel base and five panel flaps; additional panel assemblies may be ordered to hold more specimens.

Sturdy positioning arms are used to hold frames securely at the correct angle of exposure (see Accessories). Sold in pairs, they are available for positioning the Q-RACK system at either: 0º (horizontal), 5º, 45º or 90º (vertical), to meet your testing specifications.
Other accessories include sub-frame kits (set of 8), additional rack components, test panels, and a black box retrofit kit.

Q-RACK Under Glass Exposure Rack Kits
Q-RACK under glass exposure rack systems feature two legs and a special welded, anodized aluminum main frame measuring 3.66 x 1.68 x 0.10m. Six sub-frames are provided, each covered with special 3 mm window glass.  All mounting hardware is supplied to hold test specimens in place.  Sturdy positioning arms are used to hold frames securely at the correct angle of exposure (see Accessories).  Sold in pairs, they are available for positioning the Q-RACK system at either: 0º (horizontal), 5º, 45º or 90º (vertical), to meet your testing specifications.

A black box under glass exposure kit also is available. With its aluminum black box, the rack kit is suitable for testing indoor materials under higher temperature conditions.

TECHNICAL BULLETINS
LU-0822 - Sunlight, Weathering, Light Stability
LU-8030 - Errors Caused by Using Joules
LU-8035 - Natural vs. UV Exposures

TECHNICAL ARTICLES
LL-9033 - Outdoor Weathering Must Verify
LU-8021 - Polyester Weatherability
LU-8039 - Weathering & Wood Coatings
LW-6045 - Lightfastness & Weatherability
LX-5023 - Lightfastness Studies of Inks
LX-5064 - Fade Resistance of Inks

PRODUCT BROCHURES
L-4061 - Q-Lab Products & Services Summary
LL-9035 - Climate Data Enhances Interpretation
LR-3001 - Q-RACK Brochure
LW-6000 - General Testing Guide

EQUIPMENT OPERATING MANUALS
Operating manuals have moved to Q-Portal, Q-Lab’s new customer portal. Please login to Q-Portal using your Q-Lab.com username and password, or create a new account and register your equipment to access your manual.

 

Q-PANEL Standard Substrates

Q-PANEL Standard Test Substrates

For over 50 years, Q-PANEL steel and aluminum test substrates have been recognized as the world standard for a consistent and uniform test surface for paints, plating, adhesives, sealants, rust inhibitors and other coatings.

Thousands of labs around the world use millions of our steel and aluminum test panels every year for color development, weathering exposures, salt spray and corrosion testing, physical properties testing and quality control. A wide range of panel sizes and types are available for immediate shipment from stock.

Look for the Q-shaped hole. It's our trademark and your assurance of quality.

If coatings tests are to be reliable and reproducible, they must be performed on a substrate which is reasonably consistent from test to test. Unfortunately, ordinary commercial sheet steel displays wide variations in the surface properties which affect the bonding of coatings.

Sources of Variability
Surface problems can come from a number of sources:
- Surface texture varies with the condition of the rollers used by the steel mill to cold roll the steel to its final thickness.
- Surface cleanliness varies with the mill’s cleaning procedure, especially the procedures used to control carbon smut. All too often, carbon smut is actually baked onto the steel during the high temperature annealing process which follows rolling. This carbon smut is impossible to remove except by mechanical abrasion.
- Rust varies with the care taken in handling (a) at the steel mill, (b) during transport and storage, and (c) during fabrication.
- Steel stored for a long time with rust inhibiting oil will react to form an incomplete oxide known as oil stain.

The result is that ordinary steel is unsuitable for many coatings tests. Although some commercial steel provides an excellent surface for coatings, you are just as likely to find steel which gives poor adhesion and poor rust resistance even with good coatings. In fact a single mill will often produce both very good and very poor surface quality, depending upon a number of uncontrolled factors. Cleaning and phosphating help, but they cannot overcome surface defects formed at the mill.

Q-PANEL steel and aluminum test substrates from Q-Lab minimize metal variability as a source of bias in critical paint, coating and adhesion tests. They are clean, consistent, convenient, and economical.

Clean
The Q-PANEL production process thoroughly cleans panels and removes any oil from the surface. Special handling assures that all panels are completely clean when they are packaged.  Steel panels are packed in plastic bags in quantities of 20 to 50 panels (depending on type and thickness), with a vapor phase rust inhibitor inside a sturdy cardboard carton, for a shelf life of several years.  Aluminum panels are packed similarly, except without the rust inhibitor.

Consistent
Three factors assure Q-PANEL substrates are consistent, high quality and low cost:
- volume metal purchasing from selected mills
- automated production on a high-speed line
- rigorous inspection at several processing stages

Convenient
Panels are supplied pre-cleaned, with a 6mm (¼”) Q-shaped hole (it’s our trademark and your assurance of quality). For safety and ease of handling, the panels have rounded corners and deburred edges. Our inventory of over a million paint test panels means that 95% of our orders are shipped from stock. In most cases panels can be used right out of the box.

Economical
Because of high volume production, Q-PANEL substrates cost less than you might expect for a standardized surface. Purchasing clean, safe, standardized panels reduces the time lab personnel must spend cleaning and handling panels.
Use our Q-PANEL Selector guide to browse our extensive list of standard panels and request information on a custom panel or get a quote.

Steel and Aluminum Test Substrates
Q-PANEL standard test substrates from Q-Lab are available in a variety of sizes and finishes, fabricated from steel and aluminum.  Use our Q-PANEL Selector guide to browse our extensive list of standard panels and request a quote, or see a partial list below:

Steel Panels
- Smooth Finish (Type QD)
- Matte Finish (Type R)
- Ground, Polished Finish (Type S)
- Thin, Flexible Smooth Finish (Type D)
- Thin, Flexible Smooth Finish with Tinplate (Type DT)
- Adhesion Panels, Ground Finish (Type RS)
- Taber® Abraser Panels (Type R-44-T and Type S-44-T)
- Stainless Steel (Type SS)
- Automotive Styling Panels (Type SPR)

Q-PHOS Iron-Phosphated Steel Panels
- Dull Matte Finish (Type R)
- Ground, Polished Finish (Type S)

Aluminum Panels
- Bare (Type A)
- Chromated Finish (Type AL)
- Adhesion Panels (Type AD)
- Automotive Styling Panels (Type SPC)
- Large Display Panels (Type L-1424)

Special Panels
In addition to our standard panels, we can also make types and sizes not shown on our specification sheets. Special panels may be ordered in a variety of shapes, sizes, alloys and finishes. Contact Q-Lab for more information.

TECHNICAL BULLETINS
LP-0867 - Q-PANEL Applications Guide
LP-0880 - Steel: The Problem of a Standardized Surface

PRODUCT BROCHURES
L-4061 - Q-Lab Products & Services Summary
LP-0860 - Q-PANEL Brochure
LP-0869 - Q-PANEL ARTS Brochure
LP-0871 - Q-PANEL ARTS Set Up Guide

SPECIFICATION BULLETINS
LP-0862 A - Q-PANEL Steel & Iron Phos Spec Bulletin
LP-0862 B - Q-PANEL Aluminum Specification Bulletin
LP-0862 C - Corrosion Test Coupons

EQUIPMENT OPERATING MANUALS
Operating manuals have moved to Q-Portal, Q-Lab’s new customer portal. Please login to Q-Portal using your Q-Lab.com username and password, or create a new account and register your equipment to access your manual.

 

Q-PANEL Selector

For over 50 years, Q-PANEL steel and aluminum test substrates have been recognized as the world standard for a uniform and consistent test surface for paints, adhesives, sealants, and other coatings. Q-PANEL test substrates from Q-Lab minimize metal variability as a source of bias in critical paint, coating and adhesion tests. Thousands of labs around the world use millions of our steel and aluminum panels every year for color development, weathering exposures, corrosion testing, physical property testing and quality control.

Use the guide below to browse our extensive list of standard panels, many of which are available for shipment right from stock. Select your requirements from our wide array of options and hit “Submit” to filter the results. Click the Stock Number to get more technical information, and select/submit the panels you’re interested in for a fast quotation.

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Use our Request a Custom Panel form to let us know your requirements.
 

Stock #	Metal	Finish	W	L	T	Box Qty
QD-36	Steel (Bare)	Smooth Mill	3	6	0.02	400
QD-39	Steel (Bare)	Smooth Mill	3	9	0.02	200
QD-46	Steel (Bare)	Smooth Mill	4	6	0.02	200
QD-48	Steel (Bare)	Smooth Mill	4	8	0.02	200
QD-412	Steel (Bare)	Smooth Mill	4	12	0.02	150
QD-2.36-5.51	Steel (Bare)	Smooth Mill	2.36	5.51	0.02	400
QD-612	Steel (Bare)	Smooth Mill	6	12	0.02	150
QD-23.5	Steel (Bare)	Smooth Mill	2	3.5	0.02	500
QD-24	Steel (Bare)	Smooth Mill	2	4	0.02	600
QD-2.75-4	Steel (Bare)	Smooth Mill	2.75	4	0.02	400
QD-35	Steel (Bare)	Smooth Mill	3	5	0.02	400
R-13	Steel (Bare)	Dull Matte	1	3	0.032	1400
R-23.5	Steel (Bare)	Dull Matte	2	3.5	0.032	300
R-35	Steel (Bare)	Dull Matte	3	5	0.032	250
R-36	Steel (Bare)	Dull Matte	3	6	0.032	250
R-39	Steel (Bare)	Dull Matte	3	9	0.032	125
R-46	Steel (Bare)	Dull Matte	4	6	0.032	200
R-48	Steel (Bare)	Dull Matte	4	8	0.032	125
R-412	Steel (Bare)	Dull Matte	4	12	0.032	100
R-612	Steel (Bare)	Dull Matte	6	12	0.032	100
R-44-T	Steel (Bare)	Dull Matte	4	4	0.032	250
R-44-T	Steel (Bare)	Dull Matte	4	4	0.032	250
S-35	Steel (Bare)	Ground (One Side)	3	5	0.032	250
S-36	Steel (Bare)	Ground (One Side)	3	6	0.032	250
S-39	Steel (Bare)	Ground (One Side)	3	9	0.032	125
S-46	Steel (Bare)	Ground (One Side)	4	6	0.032	200
S-48	Steel (Bare)	Ground (One Side)	4	8	0.032	125
S-412	Steel (Bare)	Ground (One Side)	4	12	0.032	100
S-612	Steel (Bare)	Ground (One Side)	6	12	0.032	100
S-44-T	Steel (Bare)	Ground (One Side)	4	4	0.032	250
D-35	Steel (Bare)	Smooth Mill	3	5	0.01	800
D-36	Steel (Bare)	Smooth Mill	3	6	0.01	800
D-46	Steel (Bare)	Smooth Mill	4	6	0.01	400
DT-36	Steel (Tinplate)	Tinplate	3	6	0.01	800
DT-46	Steel (Tinplate)	Tinplate	4	6	0.01	400
WW-46	Steel (Pre-Painted)	Painted	4	6	0.008	600
GW-46	Steel (Pre-Painted)	Painted	4	6	0.008	600
WWS-46	Steel (Pre-Painted)	Painted	4	6	0.008	600
SS-13	Steel (Stainless)	#2B	1	3	0.035	1400
SS-36	Steel (Stainless)	#2B	3	6	0.035	250
RS-14	Steel (Bare)	Ground (One Side)	1	4	0.063	600
S-36-I	Steel (Iron Phosphated)	Ground (One Side)	3	6	0.032	250
S-46-I	Steel (Iron Phosphated)	Ground (One Side)	4	6	0.032	200
S-412-I	Steel (Iron Phosphated)	Ground (One Side)	4	12	0.032	100
R-36-I	Steel (Iron Phosphated)	Dull Matte	3	6	0.032	250
R-46-I	Steel (Iron Phosphated)	Dull Matte	4	6	0.032	200
R-412-I	Steel (Iron Phosphated)	Dull Matte	4	12	0.032	100
A-1.75-5	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	1.75	5	0.025	800
A-23.5	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	2	3.5	0.025	500
A-24	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	2	4	0.025	450
A-2.75-4	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	2.75	4	0.025	300
A-35	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	3	5	0.025	500
A-36	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	3	6	0.025	500
A-39	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	3	9	0.025	150
A-46	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	4	6	0.025	250
A-48	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	4	8	0.025	150
A-412	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	4	12	0.025	125
A-612	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	6	12	0.025	125
AL-23.5	Aluminum (Chromated)	Smooth Mill	2	3.5	0.025	500
AL-35	Aluminum (Chromated)	Smooth Mill	3	5	0.025	500
AL-36	Aluminum (Chromated)	Smooth Mill	3	6	0.025	500
AL-39	Aluminum (Chromated)	Smooth Mill	3	9	0.025	150
AL-46	Aluminum (Chromated)	Smooth Mill	4	6	0.025	250
AL-48	Aluminum (Chromated)	Smooth Mill	4	8	0.025	150
AL-412	Aluminum (Chromated)	Smooth Mill	4	12	0.025	125
AL-612	Aluminum (Chromated)	Smooth Mill	6	12	0.025	125
AD-14	Aluminum (Alclad)	Smooth Mill	1	4	0.063	600
AR-14	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	1	4	0.063	600
AQ-24	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	2	4	0.032	600
AQ-36	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	3	6	0.032	400
AQ-44	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	4	4	0.032	200
AQ-46	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	4	6	0.032	300
AQ-48	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	4	8	0.032	125
AQ-412	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	4	12	0.032	100
AQ-2.36-5.51	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	2.36	5.51	0.032	250
AQ-612	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	6	12	0.032	100
SPC-2434	Aluminum	Painted	24	34	0.04	10
L-1424	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	14	24	0.025	10
HA-14	Steel (Bare)	Dull Matte	1	4	0.04	600
HA-46	Steel (Bare)	Dull Matte	4	6	0.04	100
HN-34	Steel (Bare)	Dull Matte	3	4	0.04	250
ARX-310	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	3	10	0.032	125
ASX-310	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	3	10	0.032	125
CXB-12-K	Steel (Bare)	Smooth Mill	1	2	0.125	30
CXC-35-K	Steel (Bare)	Dull Matte	3	5	0.032	30
CXD-2.76.5.90-K	Steel (Bare)	Mill	2.76	5.9	0.047	30
AN-36	Aluminum (Anodized)	Smooth Mill	3	6	0.025	500
AN-46	Aluminum (Anodized)	Smooth Mill	4	6	0.025	250
AN-612	Aluminum (Anodized)	Smooth Mill	6	12	0.025	125
AN-1.75-5	Aluminum (Bare)	Smooth Mill	1.75	5	0.025	800
AT-23.5	Aluminum (Chromated)	Smooth Mill	2	3.5	0.025	500
AT-35	Aluminum (Chromated)	Smooth Mill	3	5	0.025	500
AT-36	Aluminum (Chromated)	Smooth Mill	3	6	0.025	500
AT-39	Aluminum (Chromated)	Smooth Mill	3	9	0.025	150
AT-46	Aluminum (Chromated)	Smooth Mill	4	6	0.025	250
AT-48	Aluminum (Chromated)	Smooth Mill	4	8	0.025	150
AT-412	Aluminum (Chromated)	Smooth Mill	4	12	0.025	125
AT-612	Aluminum (Chromated)	Smooth Mill	6	12	0.025	125
AQT-36	Aluminum (Chromated)	Smooth Mill	3	6	0.032	400
AQT-46	Aluminum (Chromated)	Smooth Mill	4	6	0.032	300
AQT-412	Aluminum (Chromated)	Smooth Mill	4	12	0.032	100
R-36-ICF	Steel (Iron Phosphated)	Dull Matte	3	6	0.032	250
R-46-ICF	Steel (Iron Phosphated)	Dull Matte	4	6	0.032	200
R-48-ICF	Steel (Iron Phosphated)	Dull Matte	4	8	0.032	125
R-412-ICF	Steel (Iron Phosphated)	Dull Matte	4	12	0.032	100
S-36-ICF	Steel (Iron Phosphated)	Ground (One Side)	3	6	0.032	250
S-46-ICF	Steel (Iron Phosphated)	Ground (One Side)	4	6	0.032	200
S-412-ICF	Steel (Iron Phosphated)	Ground (One Side)	4	12	0.032	100
SPR-2434	Steel	Dull Matte	24	34	0.032	10

 

Q-PANEL Automotive Refinish Training System

The new Q-PANEL automotive refinish training system is a low-cost platform used by automotive refinish centers to train technicians on proper painting techniques. It is also used by paint manufacturers to develop and display new paint and coating products.

The system comprises a portable mounting cart and set of lightweight, simulated automobile hood and fender panels.

The mounting cart designed to fully support the panels in the correct orientation for painting. It may be folded up when not in use, requiring very little storage space. The large primed aluminum hood and fender panels are shaped like real automobile panels, but are much less expensive and can be used multiple times.

Look for the Q-shaped hole. It’s our trademark and your assurance of quality.

The patent-pending Q-PANEL automotive refinish training system is a cost-effective alternative to using real hoods and fenders for automotive paint refinish development and training. It is designed to give the paint applicator experience with the techniques used to paint whole vehicles, without the high expense. Other applications include technician evaluation, paint and coatings development, trade show displays and customer demonstrations.

Save Money
Lower in cost than actual automobile hoods and fenders, the Q-PANEL simulated hood and fenders are shaped like real automotive components to provide a true-to-life painting experience, at a lower cost than using actual automotive parts. Hood and fender panels are constructed from sturdy 1mm (0.040") thick aluminum to allow for multiple uses. The panels can be prepped and painted multiple times. The cart is also constructed from lightweight aluminum for reduced shipping costs.

Save Time
No tools are needed to set up the automotive refinish training system mounting cart or to mount the simulated hood and fenders. It takes just a minute to attach the hood and fenders onto the mounting cart; the hood and fender panels can be quickly changed out for the next application. Because the hood and fenders come pre-coated in a neutral gray color, no priming is necessary.

Save Space
The Q-PANEL hood and fender panels are thin and can be nested together to save storage space. The mounting cart utilizes quick release fittings to fold in seconds for convenient storage, and can be easily tilted and rolled to working or storage locations.

The Q-PANEL automotive refinish training system from Q-Lab is an innovation with many unique features:

Mounting Cart
- Folds compactly for storage
- Quick release pins for fast set up and take down
- Strong, lightweight aluminum tubing construction
- Precise positioning of hood and fender panels
- Realistic painting surface orientation
- Wheels and positioning handle for ease of movement
- Fresh hood and fender panels can be stored in the folded cart

Hood and Fender Panels
- Contoured to simulate real automobile hood and fenders
- Lightweight aluminum construction
- Reusable
- Less expensive than actual automotive hoods and fenders
- Stackable for compact storage
- Mount quickly and easily to cart
- Precise positioning for accurate hood to fender seam simulation
- Pre-coated - no primer needed

PRODUCT BROCHURES
L-4061 - Q-Lab Products & Services Summary
LP-0869 - Q-PANEL ARTS Brochure
LP-0871 - Q-PANEL ARTS Set Up Guide

EQUIPMENT OPERATING MANUALS
Operating manuals have moved to Q-Portal, Q-Lab’s new customer portal. Please login to Q-Portal using your Q-Lab.com username and password, or create a new account and register your equipment to access your manual.
 

Q-PANEL Corrosion Coupons

For over 50 years, Q-PANEL test substrates have been recognized as the world standard for a consistent and uniform test surface for paints, plating, adhesives, sealants, rust inhibitors and other coatings. This consistency and uniformity is now available through Q-Lab’s CX-series corrosion test coupons.

Corrosion test coupons ensure repeatability and reproducibility when performing laboratory corrosion testing. They help a user independently monitor the test conditions in the chamber, by measuring the mass loss of the coupons as the test progresses. CX corrosion coupons are designed to meet the stringent requirements specified in modern corrosion test methods, such as GMW14872, GM9540P, SAE J2334, SAE J2721, ASTM B117, ISO 9227, and VDA-233-102.

All Q-PANEL CX-series corrosion coupons include Certificate of Analysis, come pre-cleaned and ready to use right out of the package. This allows the user to simply measure the panels and place them in the tester, saving time and effort. And best of all, CX corrosion coupons are often half the price of competitors’ coupons.

Why do Corrosion Testing?
The estimated direct cost of corrosion effects in the United States alone is estimated at almost $300 billion annually – for this reason, it is critical for manufacturers to understand their products’ resistance to corrosive environments.  Corrosion test standards are used widely to address this issue, but for this corrosion testing to be of value, laboratories need to verify their testing is reliable and reproducible.

What are Corrosion Coupons?
Corrosion coupons (also known as mass-loss coupons) are standardized thin steel panels that serve as reference specimens in corrosion testing.  They help a user verify the rate of corrosion in corrosion chambers and serve as independent test monitoring devices. Q-Lab’s CX-series of standard corrosion test coupons are ideally suited for this application – they are consistent, clean, convenient, and cost-effective. 

Consistent
Surface inconsistencies, such as variations in steel roller condition, carbon dust impurity, rust caused by handling errors, and long storage times can affect the consistency of corrosion mass-loss. As a result, ordinary steel is unsuitable for many corrosion tests. Q-Lab’s CX-series steel corrosion coupons minimize metal variability as a source of bias in critical corrosion tests, due to three key factors:
- volume metal purchasing from select mills
- automated production on a high-speed line
- rigorous inspection at several processing stages 

Clean
The Q-Lab CX corrosion coupon production process thoroughly cleans panels and removes any oil from the surface. Special handling assures all panels are completely clean when packaged.  Corrosion coupons are packed in plastic bags with vapor phase rust inhibitor, preserving the high degree of surface quality for a long shelf life. 

Convenient
For your safety and ease of handling, all Q-PANEL corrosion coupons have deburred edges, and some versions have rounded edges (depending on the requirements of the appropriate standard). Corrosion coupons are supplied pre-cleaned – in fact, Q-Lab’s cleaning and packaging quality allow you to use CX corrosion coupons right out of the package, without compromising test consistency. 
Furthermore, CX corrosion coupons are tailored to meet the requirements of major national, international, and manufacturer corrosion test standards without any modification – just plug and play. 

Cost-effective
Because of high volume production and Q-Lab’s decades-long history as the leader in standardized test substrates, CX corrosion coupons cost much less than you might expect – often half the pricing of competitors.  Purchasing pre-cleaned corrosion coupons reduces the time lab personnel must spend cleaning and handling panels, saving further costs.

Q-Lab offers three different steel Corrosion Coupons as standard items, typically in-stock. These three product offerings are designed specifically to meet the requirements of some of the most prevalent industry-standard test methods for evaluating corrosion. 

CXB-12
These corrosion coupons are made from SAE1008-1010 carbon steel, measuring 25 x 51 x 3 mm (1 × 2 × 0.125”).  They come standard with rounded corners and a Q-shaped center hole and plastic mounting hardware for convenience. CXB-12 coupons are designed for testing to important corrosion standards like GMW14872, GM9540P, and SAE J2334.

CXC-35
Q-Lab’s CXC-35 Corrosion Coupons are 76 x 127 x 0.8mm  (3 × 5 × 0.032") panels made from SAE1008 commercial-grade, cold-rolled carbon steel. CXC-35 corrosion coupons meet all of the requirements of the ASTM B117 salt fog corrosion test standard.

CXD-2.76-5.90
Measuring 70 × 150 × 1.2 mm ( 2.76 × 5.90 × 0.047") of CR-4 grade steel, CXD-2.76-5.90 corrosion coupons meet the test requirements set out in standards ISO 9227 and VDA-233-102.

Custom Panels
In addition to our standard corrosion coupons above, we can also make custom corrosion coupons in a variety of shapes, sizes, alloys, and finishes, not shown on our specification bulletin. Send us your custom specifications for a quote.

TECHNICAL BULLETINS
LP-0867 - Q-PANEL Applications Guide
LP-0880 - Steel: The Problem of a Standardized Surface

PRODUCT BROCHURES
L-4061 - Q-Lab Products & Services Summary
LP-0860 - Q-PANEL Brochure

SPECIFICATION BULLETINS
LP-0862 A - Q-PANEL Steel & Iron Phos Spec Bulletin
LP-0862 B - Q-PANEL Aluminum Specification Bulletin
LP-0862 C - Corrosion Test Coupons

EQUIPMENT OPERATING MANUALS
Operating manuals have moved to Q-Portal, Q-Lab’s new customer portal. Please login to Q-Portal using your Q-Lab.com username and password, or create a new account and register your equipment to access your manual.

 

RADIOMETERS AND CALIBRATED THERMOMETERS

All QUV and Q-SUN testers come with a black panel temperature sensor to monitor and accurately maintain temperature within the tester. For some Q-SUN models, a chamber air temperature sensor can be substituted or used simultaneously.  The black panel temperature sensor in the tester needs to be calibrated periodically. For the QUV tester, this is accomplished simply by using any reference thermometer. In the case of the Q-SUN testers, a special reference black panel thermometer must be used. The reference thermometer itself needs to be calibrated once per year. All QUV and Q-SUN testers are equipped with the SOLAR EYE irradiance control system (except for the QUV/basic tester). The SOLAR EYE system monitors and accurately maintains irradiance levels within the tester. The sensor within the SOLAR EYE system must be calibrated by the user periodically. This is accomplished with a special calibration radiometer. This radiometer itself needs to be calibrated once per year. The Universal Calibrator (UC) system is used for calibration of temperature in Q-SUN testers and irradiance in QUV and Q-SUN testers. This system consists of a handheld display unit that can be used “plug and play” with all irradiance and temperature sensors. Q-Lab also services and supports existing calibration radiometers (CR10 and CR20) and calibration thermometers (CT202). Either system can be used with any QUV or Q-SUN tester.

QUV Thermometer Calibration
The QUV black panel temperature sensor needs to be calibrated periodically by the user to assure accurate and consistent results.  Calibrating the QUV black panel temperature sensor is simply performed with any standard reference thermometer.Temperature sensors do not require normal replacement.  In the event of an unlikely failure, a replacement can be ordered under the following part number:
- V-2156-X              QUV Black Panel Temperature Sensor (replace as necessary)

Q-SUN Thermometer Calibration
All Q-SUN black panel temperature sensors need to be calibrated periodically by the user to assure accurate and consistent results.  Calibrating the black panel temperature sensor is simple using the Universal Calibrator system’s UC202 calibrated temperature sensor and UC1 handheld display, or the historical CT202 thermometer, and takes only a few minutes.  Note that CT202 and UC202 thermometers comes with either an uninsulated black panel or insulated black panel sensor, and must match the type of sensor actually used in the Q-SUN tester.

Calibration of the UC202 and CT202 thermometers needs to be performed annually. The UC202 thermometers were designed to be disposable and cost-efficient, and should be replaced annually with a  freshly-calibrated UC202. The CT202 thermometer needs to be returned to Q-Lab once per year for an inexpensive recalibration. UC202 units may also be returned for calibration for users who prefer recalibration to replacement.  Our calibration labs are ISO 17025 accredited by the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA - Ohio Certificate Number 2382-01, China Certificate Number 2383-02 and England Certificate Number 2383-03).  Calibrations are traceable to the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).  See Recalibration Return Procedure.

In the Q-SUN Xe-1, the tester can have an optional chamber air temperature sensor (included for a model Xe-1 with chiller).  Calibrating the Xe-1 chamber air temperature sensor is simply performed with any standard reference thermometer.In both the Q-SUN Xe-2 and Xe-3 models, the low-cost, combination relative humidity/chamber air temperature sensor was thoughtfully designed to be disposable.  It should be replaced once a year and cannot be recalibrated.

Common Q-SUN thermometer part numbers are shown below:
- X-10235-X             Q-SUN Xe-1/Xe-3 Black Panel Temperature Sensor (replace as necessary)
- X-7778-X               Q-SUN Xe-1/Xe-3 Insulated Black Panel Temperature Sensor (replace as necessary)
- XR-11463-X           Q-SUN Xe-2 Black Panel Temperature Sensor (replace as necessary)
- XR-11464-X           Q-SUN Xe-2 Insulated Black Panel Temperature Sensor (replace as necessary)
- X-10415-K             Q-SUN Relative Humidity/Chamber Air Sensor (replace annually)
- UC1                       Universal Calibrator Handheld Display
- UC202/BP             Universal Calibrator System Q-SUN Black Panel Calibration Thermometer
- UC202/IBP             Universal Calibrator System Q-SUN Insulated Black Panel Calibration Thermometer
- UC202/RECAL      Recalibration of UC202 Calibration Thermometer (annual replacement is recommended but annual recalibration is available)
- CT202/RECAL     Recalibration of CT202 Thermometer (recommended annually)

QUV Radiometer Calibration
For all models except QUV/basic, the QUV SOLAR EYE irradiance sensor needs to be calibrated periodically by the user.  This will assure accurate and consistent results.  Calibrating the QUV tester is simple using the AUTOCAL system and either a Universal Calibrator UC10/uv calibration irradiance sensor or a legacy CR10 calibration radiometer, and takes only a few minutes.  QUV calibration radiometers are equipped to calibrate a QUV tester with either UV-A or UV-B lamps.  For the QUV/cw (cool white), a UC10/cw smart sensoror or CR10/cw calibration radiometer must be used.

Calibration of the UC10 and CR10 radiometers needs to be performed annually. The UC10 sensors were designed to be disposable and cost-efficient, and should be replaced annually with a  freshly-calibrated UC10. The CR10 radiometer needs to be returned to Q-Lab once per year for an inexpensive recalibration. UC10 units may also be returned for calibration for users who prefer recalibration to replacement. See Recalibration Return Procedure. Our calibration labs are ISO 17025 accredited by the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA - Ohio Certificate Number 2382-01, China Certificate Number 2383-02 and England Certificate Number 2383-03).  Calibrations are traceable to the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). 

Common QUV radiometer part numbers are shown below:
- UC1                   Universal Calibrator Handheld Display
- UC10/uv           QUV Calibration Radiometer (UVA & UVB lamps)
- UC10/cw          QUV Calibration Radiometer (cool white lamps)
- UC10/RECAL   Recalibration of UC10 Calibration Radiometer (annual replacement is recommended but annual recalibration is available)
- CR10/RECAL   Recalibration of CR10 (recommended annually)

Q-SUN Radiometer Calibration
All Q-SUN SOLAR-EYE irradiance sensors need to be calibrated periodically by the user to assure accurate and consistent results.  Calibrating the Q-SUN tester is simple using the Universal Calibrator system’s UC20 calibration radiometer or the legacy CR20 calibration radiometer, and takes only a few minutes.  Both UC20 and CR20 devices come with a 340nm, 420nm, or 300-400nm TUV (Total UV) sensor and must match the type of sensor actually used in the Q-SUN tester. CR20 calibration radiometers must also match the optical filter in use in the Q-SUN. 

Calibration of the UC20 and CR20 radiometers needs to be performed annually. The UC20 sensors were designed to be disposable and cost-efficient, and should be replaced annually with a  freshly-calibrated UC20. The CR20 radiometer needs to be returned to Q-Lab once per year for an inexpensive recalibration. UC20 units may also be returned for calibration for users who prefer recalibration to replacement.  See Recalibration Return Procedure.  Our calibration labs are ISO 17025 accredited by the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA).  Calibrations are traceable to the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Common Q-SUN radiometer part numbers are shown below:
- UC1            Universal Calibrator Handheld Display
- UC20/340       Q-SUN 340 nm Calibration Radiometer
- UC20/420       Q-SUN 420 nm Calibration Radiometer
- UC20/TUV      Q-SUN TUV (Total UV) Calibration Radiometer
- UC20/LUX      Q-SUN Xe-1 & Xe-3 LUX Calibration Radiometer
- UC20/RECAL  Recalibration of UC20 Calibration Radiometer (annual replacement is recommended but annual recalibration is available)
- CR20/RECAL  Recalibration of CR20 (recommended annually)

PRODUCT BROCHURES
L-4061 - Q-Lab Products & Services Summary

SPECIFICATION BULLETINS
L-3000 - Universal Calibrator (UC) Specifications

EQUIPMENT OPERATING MANUALS
Operating manuals have moved to Q-Portal, Q-Lab’s new customer portal. Please login to Q-Portal using your Q-Lab.com username and password, or create a new account and register your equipment to access your manual.

 

UV LAMPS AND OPTICAL FILTERS

UV light is responsible for almost all photodegradation of durable materials exposed outdoors. The QUV tester’s fluorescent lamps simulate the critical short-wave UV spectrum and reproduce the physical property caused by sunlight. Several different types of UV lamps are available for different applications, and optical filters are not required. The Q-SUN family of xenon-arc testers uses xenon-arc lamps to produce the most realistic reproduction of full spectrum sunlight including UV, visible light, and infrared radiation. For many materials, exposure to the full spectrum is necessary to provide an accurate simulation, especially when testing for color change and lightfastness. However, xenon light must be properly filtered to achieve the appropriate spectrum for each particular application. Differences in spectra may affect both the speed and type of degradation.

QUV Ultraviolet Fluorescent Lamps
All of the QUV accelerated weathering tester's lamps emit mainly ultraviolet (UV) rather than visible or infrared (IR) light.  All are electrically equivalent to an ordinary 40-watt fluorescent lamp.  However, each lamp type differs in the total amount of UV energy emitted and in its wavelength spectrum.  Fluorescent UV lamps are usually categorized as UV-A or UV-B lamps, depending on the region into which most of their light output falls.  

UV-A lamps are especially useful for comparing different types of polymers.  Because UV-A lamps do not have any UV output below the normal solar cutoff of 295 nm, they usually do not degrade materials as fast as UV-B lamps.  However, they usually provide better correlation with actual outdoor weathering.

UV-B radiation includes some light with wavelengths shorter than sunlight that reaches the earth’s surface.  Consequently, fluorescent UV-B lamps are widely used in Quality Control (QC) and Research and Development (R&D) for fast, cost-effective results.  Because all UV-B lamps emit unnatural, short-wavelengths of UV that are below the solar cutoff of 295 nm, anomalous results can occur. 

Q-SUN Full Spectrum Xenon Arc Lamps
Xenon arc lamps give the ultimate correlation to the full spectrum of natural sunlight.  Unlike the QUV tester whose lamps directly determine the radiation that specimens see, the Q-SUN tester requires optical filters to accomplish the same.  These optical filters are used to simulate a variety of service environments including direct sunlight and sunlight through window glass.  Filter performance does not decline with age; therefore, filters do not need to be replaced unless the glass is broken.

The Q-SUN Xe-2 model’s optical filter lantern is designed to produce the spectra specified in ISO and AATCC test methods and is equivalent to sunlight coming through window glass. The lantern consists of an outer borosilicate cylinder and two sets of 7 inner filters, arranged in a two-tier heptagon.

There are three general categories of filters which can be used in the Q-SUN Xe-1 and Xe-3 xenon test chambers.  The choice of filter depends upon the material tested and its end-use application.  Within each general category, there may be several different types of filters.  Each filter is a flat piece of specialty glass specifically designed to have a particular transmission.  

Because the radiation from an unfiltered xenon arc contains too much short-wave UV to allow useful correlation to natural exposures on the earth’s surface, Q-SUN testers employ various types of filters to reduce unwanted radiation and achieve an appropriate spectrum.  For most of the filter types used, the greatest effect is on the short wavelength portion of the spectrum.  Because the damaging effects of UV are inversely proportional to wavelength (i.e., shorter wavelengths = more damaging), it is critical that the cut-on wavelength match the service environment.

Low Cost Replacement Lamps and Filters for Atlas Weather-Ometer® Testers

Q-Lab offers water-cooled replacement lamps and optical filters for use in Atlas Weather-Ometer® models Ci35, Ci35A, Ci65, Ci65A, Ci4000, Ci4400, Ci5000, and SUNTEST CPS and CPS+.  These replacement lamps and filters are lower in cost and guaranteed to have a comparable spectral power distribution to those supplied by Atlas.

®Weather-Ometer is a registered trademark of Atlas Material Testing, LLC

QUV Lamps
Q-Lab supplies the highest quality UV fluorescent lamps available. The technology behind the lamps produces a spectrum that is inherently stable throughout their use. Each manufacturing lot is required to pass a stringent series of tests before it is approved for sale. The result is that the QUV tester provides a consistent, stable spectrum, year after year.

Several different types of UV lamps are available for different applications; part numbers are listed below. See the QUV Tester Page,
Lamps Tab for more detailed information.

QUV Lamp Part Numbers
UVA-340: The UVA-340 provides the best possible simulation of sunlight in the critical short wavelength region from 365 nm down to the solar cutoff of 295 nm. Its peak emission is at 340 nm

UVA-340+: The UVA-340+ lamp delivers the same light spectrum as the UVA-340 lamp, plus extended lifetime at high irradiance.

UVA-351: The UVA-351 simulates the UV portion of sunlight filtered through window glass

QFS-40: Also known as FS-40 or F40 UVB, the original QUV lamp. FS-40 lamps are still specified in some automotive test methods.

UVB-313EL: Substantially higher UV and, therefore, faster test results. Used in place of the QFS-40 in the QUV/se and QUV/spray.

UVB-313EL+: The UVB-313EL+ lamp delivers nearly the same light spectrum as the UVB-313EL lamp, plus extended lifetime at high irradiance.
UVC-254: The UVC-254 lamp provides UVC light concentrated at 254 nm

Cool White Lamps: Cool white lamps are commonly used in commercial, retail, and office environments. The same cool white lamps can be used in the QUV/CW but at much higher intensities to test for indoor photostability of materials.
All lamps should be replaced after 8000 hours of operation at typical irradiance levels, or when irradiance set point can’t be reached.

UVA-340+ and UVB-313EL+ lamps should be replaced after 1500 hours of operation at high irradiance (1.55 W/m2/nm). See LU-0819, QUV Specifications, for details.

Q-SUN Xenon Arc Lamps
The Q-SUN Xe-1, Xe-2 and Xe-3 testers’ xenon arc lamps produce the most realistic reproduction of full spectrum sunlight including ultraviolet, visible light and infrared radiation. For many materials, exposure to the full spectrum is necessary to provide an accurate simulation, especially when testing for color change and lightfastness.
Air-cooling makes the Q-SUN xenon arc lamps economical, efficient and low maintenance.  Lamps last for 1500 hours; the Q-SUN Xe-1 and the Xe-2 use a single 1800W lamp per machine, while the Q-SUN Xe-3 uses three.  Common Q-SUN lamp part numbers are listed below.  See the Q-SUN Tester Pages, Lamps Tabs for more detailed information.

Q-SUN Lamp Part Numbers
- X-1800         Q-SUN Xe-1 & Xe-3 Xenon Arc Lamp (replace every 1500 hours)
- X-1800+       Q-SUN Xe-1 & Xe-3 Xenon Arc Lamp (replace every 3000 hours, Q-SUN "E" models only)
- X-1850         Q-SUN Xe-2 Xenon Arc Lamp (replace every 1500 hours)
- X-1850+       Q-SUN Xe-2 Xenon Arc Lamp (replace every 3000 hours, Q-SUN "E" models only)

Low Cost Replacement Lamps for Atlas Weather-Ometer® Testers
Q-Lab offers water-cooled replacement lamps for use in Atlas Weather-Ometer® models Ci35, Ci35A, Ci65, Ci65A, Ci4000, Ci4400, Ci5000, and SUNTEST CPS and CPS+

These low-cost water-cooled replacement lamps are guaranteed to have a comparable spectral power distribution to original lamps supplied by Atlas.  The lamps meet a wide range of ISO, ASTM, SAE, and AATC requirements.

Atlas Weather-Ometer® Lamp Part Numbers
- X-6500         6500 Watt Xenon Arc Lamp (Atlas part #20-6500-00 for Ci35, Ci35A, Ci65, Ci65A, Ci4000, and Ci4400)
- X-12000       12000 Watt Xenon Arc Lamp (Atlas part #20-3053-00 for Ci5000)
- X-1500          1500 Watt Xenon Arc Lamp (Atlas part #56-0017-94 for CPS and CPS+)
®Weather-Ometer is a registered trademark of Atlas Material Testing, LLC

QUV Optical Filters
Unlike xenon arc test chambers, the QUV tester does not require the use of any optical filters.

Q-SUN Optical Filters
Xenon light must be properly filtered to achieve the appropriate spectrum for each particular application.  Differences in spectra may affect both the speed and the type of degradation.  Three categories of filters are available to simulate a variety of service environments.  The application or test method dictates which filters should be used.  Below are some useful part numbers.  See the Q-SUN Tester Page, Optical Filter Tabs for more detailed information. 

Q-SUN Optical Filter Part Numbers
- X-7460          Q-SUN Xe-1 & Xe-3 Daylight-Q Optical Filter (Type I Daylight)
- X-10271        Q-SUN Xe-1 & Xe-3 Daylight-B/B Optical Filter (Type II Daylight)
- X-10586        Q-SUN Xe-1 & Xe-3 Daylight-F Optical Filter (Type I Daylight)
- X-10266        Q-SUN Xe-1 & Xe-3 Window-Q Optical Filter
- X-10214        Q-SUN Xe-1 & Xe-3 Window-B/SL Optical Filter
- X-10857        Q-SUN Xe-1 & Xe-3 Window SF5 Optical Filter
- X-10110        Q-SUN Xe-1 & Xe-3 Window-IR Optical Filter
- X-10180        Q-SUN Xe-1 & Xe-3 Extended UV-Quartz Optical Filter
- X-6502          Q-SUN Xe-1 & Xe-3 Extended UV-Q/B Optical Filter
- XR-11757-K  Q-SUN Xe-2 Daylight-B/B Optical Filter Lantern (Type II Daylight)
- XR-11758-K  Q-SUN Xe-2 Daylight-Q Optical Filter Lantern (Type I Daylight)
- XR-11759-K  Q-SUN Xe-2 Daylight-F Optical Filter Lantern (Type I Daylight)
- XR-11755-K  Q-SUN Xe-2 Window-Q Optical Filter Lantern
- XR-11756-K  Q-SUN Xe-2 Window-B/SL Optical Filter Lantern
- XR-11761-K  Q-SUN Xe-2 Window-IR Optical Filter Lantern
- XR-11762-K  Q-SUN Xe-2 Window-B04 Optical Filter Lantern
- XR-11760-K  Q-SUN Xe-2 Extended UV-Q/B Filter Lantern

Low Cost Replacement Filters for Atlas Weather-Ometer® Testers
Q-Lab offers replacement optical filters for use in Atlas Weather-Ometer® models Ci35, Ci35A, Ci65, Ci65A, Ci4000, Ci4400, and Ci5000.

These low cost replacement filters are guaranteed to have a comparable spectral power distribution to original filters supplied by Atlas.  The filters meet a wide range of ISO, ASTM, SAE, and AATC requirements.

Atlas Weather-Ometer® Filter Part Numbers 
- X-10893-K     Boro Outer Filter (For Ci35/Ci65) 
- X-10888-K     Boro Outer Filter (Atlas part #20-2796-00 for Ci4000)   
- X-10894-K     Boro Outer Filter (Atlas part #20-3128-00 for Ci5000)
- X-10891-K     Boro Inner Filter (Atlas part #20-2341-00  for Ci35/Ci65 and Ci4000)   
- X-10892-K     Boro Inner Filter (Atlas part #20-3132-00 for Ci5000)   
- X-10889-K     Quartz Inner Filter (Atlas part #20-6506-00 Ci35/Ci65 and Ci4000)   
- X-10890-K     Quartz Inner Filter (Atlas part #20-3133-00 Ci5000)              

®Weather-Ometer is aregistered trademark of Atlas Material Testing, LLC

TECHNICAL BULLETINS
LU-8054 - SPD for Noon Summer Sunlight
LU-8160 - A Choice of Lamps for QUV
LX-5060 - A Choice of Filters for Q-SUN

TECHNICAL ARTICLES
LU-0823 - QUV/cw Summary

PRODUCT BROCHURES
L-4061 - Q-Lab Products & Services Summary
LU-0801 - QUV Brochure
LX-5077 - Replacement Lamps & Filters for Atlas

SPECIFICATION BULLETINS
LU-0819 - QUV Specifications
LU-0825 - Product Safety Data Sheet Fluorescent Lamps
LX-5031 - Q-SUN B02 Specifications
LX-5046 - Q-SUN Xe-1, Xe-2 & Xe-3 Specifications
LX-5070 - Product Safety Data Sheet Xenon Lamps

EQUIPMENT OPERATING MANUALS
Operating manuals have moved to Q-Portal, Q-Lab’s new customer portal. Please login to Q-Portal using your Q-Lab.com username and password, or create a new account and register your equipment to access your manual.