ASTM D6360-15(2021)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D6360 − 15 (Reapproved 2021)
Standard Practice for
Enclosed Carbon-Arc Exposures of Plastics
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6360; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope D5031Practice for Enclosed Carbon-Arc Exposure Tests of
Paint and Related Coatings
1.1 This practice covers specific procedures and test condi-
D5870Practice for Calculating Property Retention Index of
tions that are applicable for exposure of plastics in enclosed
Plastics
carbon-arc devices conducted in accordance with Practices
E691Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
G151 and G153. This practice also covers the preparation of
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
test specimens, the test conditions suited for plastics, and the
G113Terminology Relating to Natural andArtificialWeath-
evaluation of test results.
ering Tests of Nonmetallic Materials
1.2 This practice does not cover filtered open-flame carbon-
G141Guide for Addressing Variability in Exposure Testing
arcexposuresofplastics,whicharecoveredinPracticeD1499.
of Nonmetallic Materials
Practice D5031 describes enclosed carbon-arc exposures of
G147Practice for Conditioning and Handling of Nonmetal-
paints and related coatings.
lic Materials for Natural and Artificial Weathering Tests
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as G151PracticeforExposingNonmetallicMaterialsinAccel-
erated Test Devices that Use Laboratory Light Sources
standard.
G153Practice for Operating Enclosed Carbon Arc Light
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Apparatus for Exposure of Nonmetallic Materials
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
G169Guide for Application of Basic Statistical Methods to
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Weathering Tests
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3. Terminology
NOTE 1—There is no known ISO equivalent to this practice.
3.1 The definitions in Terminology G113 are applicable to
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
this practice.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
4. Significance and Use
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
4.1 The ability of a plastic material to resist deterioration of
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
its electrical, mechanical, and optical properties caused by
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
exposure to light, heat, and water can be very significant for
2. Referenced Documents
manyapplications.Thispracticeisintendedtoinduceproperty
2 changes associated with end-use conditions, including the
2.1 ASTM Standards:
effects of sunlight, moisture, and heat. The exposure used in
D1499Practice for Filtered Open-Flame Carbon-Arc Expo-
thispracticeisnotintendedtosimulatethedeteriorationcaused
sures of Plastics
by localized weather phenomena such as atmospheric
D3980Practice for Interlaboratory Testing of Paint and
pollution, biological attack, and saltwater exposure.
Related Materials (Withdrawn 1998)
4.2 Caution—Variation in results can be expected when
operating conditions are varied within the accepted limits of
ThispracticeisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD20onPlasticsand
this practice; therefore, no reference to the use of this practice
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.50 on Durability of Plastics.
CurrenteditionapprovedJuly1,2021.PublishedJuly2021.Originallyapproved shall be made unless accompanied by a report prepared in
in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as D6360-15. DOI: 10.1520/
accordance with Section 9 that describes the specific operating
D6360-15R21.
conditions used. Refer to Practice G151 for detailed informa-
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
tion on the caveats applicable to use of results obtained in
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
accordance with this practice.
the ASTM website.
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on NOTE 2—Additional information on sources of variability and on
www.astm.org. strategies for addressing variability in the design, execution, and data
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D6360 − 15 (2021)
analysis of laboratory-accelerated exposure tests is found in Guide G141.
6.3 Follow the procedures described in Practice G147 for
identification and conditioning and handling of specimens of
4.2.1 The spectral power distribution of light from an
test, control, and reference materials prior to, during, and after
enclosed carbon arc is significantly different from that pro-
exposure.
duced in light and water exposure devices using other carbon-
arc configurations or other light sources. The type and rate of
6.4 Do not mask the face of a specimen for the purpose of
degradation and the performance rankings produced by expo-
showing on one panel the effects of various exposure times.
surestoenclosedcarbonarcscanbemuchdifferentfromthose
Misleading results can be obtained by this method, since the
produced by exposures to other types of laboratory light
masked portion of the specimen is still exposed to temperature
sources.
and humidity cycles that in many cases will affect results.
4.2.2 Interlaboratory comparisons are valid only when all
6.5 Since the thickness of a specimen can markedly affect
laboratories use the same type of carbon arc, filters, and
the results, thickness of test and control specimens shall be
exposure conditions
within 610% of the nominal dimensions.
4.3 Reproducibility of test results between laboratories has
NOTE 3—This is especially important when mechanical properties are
been shown to be good when the stability of materials is
being investigated.
evaluated in terms of performance ranking compared to other
6.6 Incident energy at the extremes of the specimen expo-
materials or to a control; therefore, exposure of a similar
sure area in older equipment can be only 70% of that at the
material of known performance (a control) at the same time as
center.Iftheirradianceatanypositionwithintheexposurearea
4,5
the test materials is strongly recommended. It is recom-
is less than 90% of the peak irradiance, follow one of the
mended that at least three replicates of each material be
procedures outlined in Practice G153 to ensure either equal
exposed to allow for statistical evaluation of results.
radiant exposure or compensation for differences in radiant
4.4 Test results will depend upon the care that is taken to exposure.
operate the equipment in accordance with Practice G153.
6.7 Retain a supply of unexposed file specimens of all
Significant factors include regulation of line voltage, freedom
materialsevaluated.Whendestructivetestsarerun,ensurethat
from salt or other deposits from water, temperature and
sufficient file specimens are retained so that the property of
humidity control, and conditions of the electrodes.
interest can be determined on unexposed file specimens each
time exposed materials are evaluated.
5. Apparatus
6.8 It is preferable that specimens not be removed from the
5.1 The enclosed carbon-arc apparatus used shall conform
exposure apparatus for more than 24 h and then returned for
to the requirements defined in Practices G151 and G153.
additionaltests,sincethisdoesnotproducethesameresultson
allmaterialsastestsrunwithoutthistypeofinterruption.When
5.2 Unless otherwise specified, the spectral power distribu-
specimensareremovedfromtheexposureapparatusfor24hor
tion of the enclosed carbon-arc shall conform to the require-
more, and then returned for additional exposure, report the
ments in Practice G153 for enclosed carbon-arc with borosili-
elapsed time in accordance with Section 9.
cate glass globes.
NOTE 4—Since the stability of the file specimen also can be time-
6. Test Specimen
dependent, users are cautioned that over prolonged exposure periods, or
where small differences in the order of acceptable limits are anticipated,
6.1 The size and shape of specimens to be exposed will be
comparison of exposed specimens with the file specimen can be invalid.
determined by the specifications of the particular test method
Instrumental measurements are recommended whenever possible.
used to evaluate the effects of the exposure on the specimens;
therefore, the test method shall be determined by the parties
7. Procedure
concerned. Where practical, it is recommended that specimens
7.1 PracticeG153listsseveralexposurecyclesthatareused
be sized to fit specimen holders and racks supplied with the
for enclosed carbon-arc exposures of nonmetallic materials.
exposure apparatus. Unless supplied with a specific backing as
Obtainmutualagreementbetweenallconcernedpartiesforthe
an integral part of the test, specimens shall be mounted so that
specific exposure cycle used.Additional intervals and methods
only the minimum specimen area required for support by the
of wetting, by spray or condensation, or both, can be substi-
holder shall be covered. This unexposed surface must not be
tuted upon mutual agreement among the concerned parties.
used as part of the test area.
7.1.1 Byhistoricalconvention,thefollowingexposurecycle
6.2 Unless otherwise specified, exposure at least three
has been commonly used for plastics:
replicate specimens of each test and control material.
7.1.2 Continuous light with equilibrium uninsulated black
panel temperature controlled to 63 6 3°C (145 6 9°F),
consisting of the following alternating intervals:
7.1.2.1 102 minutes light only followed by 18 minutes of
Fischer, R., “Results of Round Robin Studies of Light- and Water-Exposure
Standard Practices,” Symposium on Accelerated and Outdoor Durability Testing of
light with water sprayed on the test specimens.
Organic Materials, ASTM STP 1202, ASTM, 1993, p.
7.1.3 Unlessotherwisespecified,indeviceswhichallowfor
Ketola, W. and Fischer, B., “Characterization and Use of Reference Materials
control of relative humidity, maintain relative humidity at a 50
in Accelerated Durability Tests,” VAMAS Technical Report No. 30, available from
NIST, Gaithersburg, MD. 6 10% equilibrium during the light-only interval.
D6360 − 15 (2021)
NOTE 5—Set points and operational fluctuations are listed as set point
7.7 Identificationofanycontrolspecimenusedshallaccom-
6 operational fluctuation in test conditions shown above or in Practice
pany the report.
G153. They are sometimes listed separately. The set point is the target
condition for the sensor used at the operational control point as pro-
8. Periods of Expos
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