Citation
Liskiewicz, T. (2014), "Atlas introduces UA-EMMA: the latest innovation in ultra-accelerated weathering", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 61 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ACMM.12861caa.005
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Atlas introduces UA-EMMA: the latest innovation in ultra-accelerated weathering
Article Type: New materials and equipment From: Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Volume 61, Issue 3
Atlas Material Testing Technology, leader in weathering testing equipment and services, introduced its latest advancement in exposure testing, the Ultra-Accelerated Equatorial Mount with Mirrors for Acceleration (UA-EMMA®). This new outdoor testing device provides approximately 10-12 years of equivalent radiation exposure as would be received in South Florida in a single year. Atlas developed this new solar concentrator technology utilizing the same "cool mirror" technology used in its Ultra-Accelerated Weathering System. Similar in concept to Atlas' EMMA technology, the new ultra-accelerated EMMA device tracks the sun, while concentrating reflected sunlight on test specimens mounted in a target area. The difference, however, lies in the new patented mirror system used in the UA-EMMA, which has very high reflectance in the ultraviolet (UV) and near-visible wavelength ranges while attenuating reflectance in the longer wavelength visible and infrared portions of the solar spectrum.
This technology allows for very high concentrations of UV energy without excessive heating of test samples. Typically, high-irradiance solar concentrators or laboratory solar simulators built for ultra-high-irradiance durability testing often cause test samples to overheat, resulting in unnatural material changes compared to those experienced in an end-use environment. Atlas' new technology differs in that it simultaneously fulfills three requirements critical for ultra-accelerated exposure testing:
* allows for the exposure of many different types of materials to ultra-high UV irradiances;
* maintains high fidelity to the natural solar UV spectrum; and
* keeps specimens at acceptable exposure temperatures.
The UA-EMMA uses 20 focusing mirrors arranged as parabolic facets to variably concentrate UV energy on a target area approximately 15 × 76 cm2 (6 × 30 in). UA-EMMA is also fully compliant with existing industry standards such as ASTM G90-10 Standard Practice for Performing Accelerated Outdoor Weathering of Nonmetallic Materials Using Concentrated Natural Sunlight.
Materials/products that are ideal candidates for UA-EMMA testing:
* materials that require a long service life;
* transparent and glazing materials;
* temperature-sensitive materials such as polyvinyl chloride;
* coatings applied to metal panels; and
* materials that perform well in EMMA or EMMAQUA® exposure testing (Figure 2).
Figure 2 Atlas Material Test UA-EMMA outdoor test device
More information is available at: www.ametek.com
Tomasz Liskiewicz
University of Leeds, Leeds, UK