ISO/TR 18486:2016

TECHNICAL ISO/TR
REPORT 18486
First edition
Plastics — Calculation of the goodness
of fit of the spectral distribution of a
solar simulator to a reference solar
spectral distribution
Plastiques — Calcul de la qualité de l’ajustement de la distribution
spectrale d’un simulateur solaire par rapport à une distribution
spectrale solaire de référence
PROOF/ÉPREUVE
Reference number
ISO/TR 18486:2015(E)
©
ISO 2015
ISO/TR 18486:2015(E)
© ISO 2015, Published in Switzerland
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ii © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

ISO/TR 18486:2015(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Terms and definitions . 1
3 Symbols and abbreviated terms . 1
4 Significance . 1
5 Requirements . 2
6 Calculation methods . 2
6.1 Characterizing parameter for a wavelength range . 2
6.1.1 Choice of the wavelength range . 2
6.1.2 Scaling condition . 2
6.1.3 Characterizing parameter f for a wavelength range . 3
λ1-λ2
6.2 Characterizing parameter for a known action spectrum . 3
6.2.1 Choice of the wavelength range with action spectrum . 3
6.2.2 Scaling condition with action spectrum . 4
6.2.3 Characterizing parameter f with action spectrum . 4
s(λ)1-s(λ)2
Annex A (informative) Examples for parameters of some commercially available solar simulators 5
Bibliography . 7
ISO/TR 18486:2015(E)
Foreword
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electrotechnical standardization.
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described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
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Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: Foreword - Supplementary information.
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 61, Plastics, Subcommittee SC 6, Ageing, chemical
and environmental resistance.
iv PROOF/ÉPREUVE © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

ISO/TR 18486:2015(E)
Introduction
Laboratory radiation sources generate radiation which is intended to simulate a defined „reference
sun“ as perfect as possible, where the fitting to the spectral irradiance in the materials sensitive range
is most important. So far, the fitting is described verbally only, e.g. standards concerning artificial
weathering, and the user has to decide for himself if the spectral irradiance E(λ) indicated by the
producer of the laboratory radiation source agrees suitable enough with the „reference sun“ for his
specific application or, occasionally, the classification describes the fitting to a wanted „reference sun“
only insufficiently (e.g. for standard weathering tests).
This Technical Report deals with a procedure for the determination of objective factors characterizing
the grade of fitting in quantity.
One procedure describes the grade of fitting of a laboratory radiation source to the defined reference
sun for specific spectral ranges. A second procedure results in characterizing parameters for the
respective wavelength ranges, incorporating known action spectra.
TECHNICAL REPORT ISO/TR 18486:2015(E)
Plastics — Calculation of the goodness of fit of the spectral
distribution of a solar simulator to a reference solar
spectral distribution
1 Scope
This Technical Report specifies a calculation method which allows calculating a parameter which
compares the spectral irradiance of a laboratory radiation source for weathering application to a
reference solar spectral irradiance.
2 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
2.1
spectral irradiance
E
λ
radiant flux per unit area per wavelength interval
–2 –1
Note 1 to entry: It is measured in watts per square metre per nanometre (W ⋅ m ⋅ nm ).
2.2
action spectrum
description of the spectral efficiency of radiation to produce a particular polymer response (specific
property change of a specific polymer) plotted as a function of the wavelength of the radiation
Note 1 to entry: Data of an action spectrum are specific to the polymer but independent from the radiation
source, also named spectral sensitivity.
3 Symbols and abbreviated terms
–2 –1
E(λ) spectral irradiance of reference sun (W ⋅ m ⋅ nm )
ref.
–2 –1
E(λ) spectral irradiance of laboratory radiation source (W ⋅ m ⋅ nm )
source
–2 –1
E(λ) scaled spectral irradiance of laboratory radiation source (W ⋅ m ⋅ nm )
scaled
s(λ) action spectrum
4 Significance
Not for all applications of simulated solar radiation (laboratory radiation source) the total sun spectrum
is needed. For economic reasons, therefore, it is advisable to simulate only that spectral range being of
importance for the respective process or in cases of application where the object’s heating has to be
observed in close limits, e.g. with biological objects. In this case, both VIS and IR radiation have to be
eliminated to a great extent (see Table 1).
...