SATRA expands fade and weather resistance testing
New investments totalling almost £100,000 are enabling UK-based technology centre SATRA to expand its ability to test a range of materials for their resistance to fading and weathering. These materials include leather, textiles, coated fabrics, rubber and plastics commonly used in the footwear, leathergoods, furniture, marine, aerospace and automotive industries.
As part of the investment an air-cooled xenotester will be installed to replace the centre’s current machinery which incorporates a xenon arc lamp which emits ultra violet rays to replicate sunlight and evaluate materials for colour change and fading. It can also subject products to extremes of humidity and heat.
A newly-purchased weatherometer will undertake much the same tasks as the xenotester but has a larger test chamber to accommodate sizeable test samples. In addition, being watercooled, it complies with the test standards specified by the automotive industry for a wide range of colourfastness and weathering procedures. The equipment, which replicates intensive sunlight, is also capable of carrying out testing on plastics, rubbers and coated fabrics, textiles and leather, as might be used in upholstery, at elevated temperatures (90ºC) over a range of relative humidities.
