UV Test Chamber for Wood and Surface Aging
Accelerated Aging Testing of Wood, Paints and Coatings
Together with Schreinerei Josef Eham GmbH, BF Engineering developed a compact UV test chamber for accelerated aging tests on wood, paints and coated surfaces.
The key question behind the project was a practical one: How does a wood surface change after years of exposure to light and UV radiation?
Whether for façades, fences, kitchens, furniture or other wood surfaces, the long-term visual behavior of the selected wood species, paint, lacquer or surface treatment is an important factor.
With the UV test chamber developed by BF Engineering, different wood, paint and coating combinations can be tested under defined and reproducible conditions and directly compared with one another.
The project was implemented for EHAM in 2017/2018 as a compact, customized UV testing system.
How does a surface change over many years?
Wood is a natural material. In combination with paints, lacquers, stains and other surface treatments, its appearance changes under exposure to light and UV radiation.
Accelerated UV aging tests make it possible to expose different material combinations to controlled radiation and compare their visual changes.
This allows users to determine, for example:
- which paint remains visually stable over the long term
- which surface fades more quickly
- how different wood species react to UV exposure
- how lacquers, stains and coatings influence aging behavior
- which combination maintains the desired appearance for the longest period
The testing chamber developed for EHAM was designed to accommodate four A4-sized test specimens.
This allows different combinations of wood species, color and surface treatment to be tested under identical conditions.
Investigating years of light exposure in the laboratory
The UV test chamber makes it possible to investigate the effects of light and UV radiation on materials under controlled conditions.
Manufacturers and processors can therefore identify at an early stage how different surfaces change over time.
This is particularly important for high-quality wood surfaces. Customers expect, for example, that the appearance of kitchens, furniture, façades and outdoor components will remain consistent for many years.
Accelerated testing enables different material and color combinations to be compared much faster than through observation under natural environmental conditions alone.
Customized UV test chamber
BF Engineering developed a complete testing system including the UV lamp, test chamber, temperature control, power electronics and control system.
The UV lamp is positioned above the test area. The interior is lined with reflective metal sheets to achieve uniform irradiation of the test specimens.
A manual shutter allows the radiation to be blocked without having to switch off the lamp every time the chamber is accessed. The test chamber is temperature-controlled using circulating air. An additional temperature limiter protects the system against excessive temperatures.
The result is a compact, application-specific UV test chamber for wood, paints and coated surfaces.
The system design was based on requirements from EN ISO 11341:2004 and DIN EN 15187 – Determination of light fastness of surfaces.
The system was deliberately developed as an application-specific testing solution. Since DIN EN 15187 is based on a xenon light source, the standard was not reproduced in its entirety. Instead, the relevant test conditions were adapted to the specific application.
This made it possible to perform the material and surface comparisons relevant to EHAM under reproducible conditions.
Customized testing technology for individual materials
The project demonstrates BF Engineering’s approach to customized testing systems.
The starting point is the customer’s specific testing requirement:
Which materials need to be tested? What type of radiation is required? What test area needs to be uniformly irradiated? Which temperature and exposure conditions are necessary?
Based on these requirements, BF Engineering develops customized UV test chambers, irradiation systems and material testing rigs.
The solutions range from compact test cabinets for individual material specimens to large-area irradiation systems for industrial applications.
Any questions?
We're happy to help.
BF is a forward-looking company that specializes in the development, manufacture, and optimization of high-precision systems and specialized irradiation equipment for test benches.
Your contact person
Danelis Diaz
Management Backoffice
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BF is a forward-looking company that specializes in the development, manufacture, and optimization of high-precision lighting systems and specialized illumination systems for test benches.
