Controlled Temperature and Humidity Exposure

Fisons Climate Chamber

Scope and Field of Application

This method can be used to give an indication of how well a painted surface will resist a wide range of temperature/humidity conditions. If you are particularly interested in resistance to exposure to warm humid conditions, please refer to our Resistance to Humidity test page. Coatings intended to resist prolonged contact with water can be tested for Resistance to Immersion.

Like all laboratory tests, the method described here has its advantages and limitations and these are summarised, in general terms, on our Testing Paints for Resistance to Weathering page.

 

Summary of Method

Samples are exposed in a Fisons Climatic Cabinet which is essentially a chamber mounted above an air treatment assembly containing a heating element, a chilled water operated heat exchanger, water atomisers and an air recirculating system. The chamber is equipped with temperature and humidity sensors together with an electronic control and recording system.

We can use this equipment to test the resistance of coatings to extremes of temperature and humidity. Temperatures can range from -5 to +50 °Centigrade and we can advise on the relative humidities obtainable within this temperature range.

The cabinet can be maintained at one set of conditions or it can be cycled, for example, between hot/humid and cold/dry. A typical specification might be:-

In practice, not all possible combinations of temperature, relative humidity and cycle time can be attained. We will be pleased to advise on what is possible.

One consequence of the versatility of the equipment is that there are numerous standard methods of operation. We can select from BS, ISO, DIN and ASTM methods for the testing of paints, varnishes, plastics, rubbers, bituminous materials and printed items and we will be pleased to advise on the most appropriate conditions for testing your materials.

 

Sample Requirements

The chamber dimensions are 80 x 80 x 86 cm and we can accommodate any number of samples that will fit within this chamber provided that their total weight does not exceed 20 Kg.

We recommend that samples are run in triplicate.

If you wish, we can prepare the test panels. The quantity of liquid paint we needs depends on the method of application. We will be pleased to advise you regarding our requirements.

 

Accreditation

Although PRA is accredited to ISO 17025 by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), we are not accredited to carry out this particular test.

 

 

Please contact Peter Collins for further details.

 

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