AATCC 16.3 and AATCC 169 tests now offered at Micom Laboratories
Micom Laboratories is pleased to announce that it now offers AATCC 16.3 and AATCC 169 tests as part of its offering for material testing and UV testing services. The purpose of those two standards is to characterize the ability of a textile material to retain his mechanical properties and his aesthetics after being subjected to an accelerated weathering test. Moreover, these two standards rely on the use of Xenon arc lamps as an illuminating source and they are thus based on the ASTM G155 standard. However, the difference between them is that AATCC 169 simulate a direct sunlight exposure while AATCC 16.3 simulate a through a window light.
AATCC 16.3 and AATCC 169 tests
AATCC 16.3 and AATCC 169 replicate, on an accelerated basis, the projected field conditions of the textile material in order to foresee its ability to resist degradation. In fact, through the adjustment of the temperature, the relative humidity, the wet time and of the UV time exposure cycle in the apparatus it is possible to reproduce the main characteristics of different climates.
In addition, it is possible to reproduce the characteristics of a light that is behind a window or of a direct sunlight exposure with the appropriate combination of filters. The use of a daylight filter is linked with the AATCC 169 whereas AATCC 16.3 is associated with the use of a Boro-Soda lime filter. The main properties evaluated in those tests are: the colorfastness and the residual strength of the fabric and the assessment of those properties is achievable by the fact that a Xenon arc lamp approximates the whole solar spectrum.
Thus, it represents the region of the spectrum that is responsible for the loss of the mechanical properties and for the color fading. Moreover, mechanical tests are required to quantify the breaking, tearing and bursting properties of the cloth material while a standard with a known rate of fading is necessary to assess the colorfastness property of the sample. Lastly, in both test methods, a control of known performance is required to be tested concurrently with the samples.
Micom offers polymer testing services for a wide selection of material and products. For more information about the AATCC 16.3 and AATCC 169 tests, we invite you to contact our material testing laboratory today. It will be our pleasure to answer your questions about either of those tests.
Micom Laboratories is a third party industrial material testing laboratory accredited by the Standards Council of Canada, CGSB, ISTA and many other organizations.
Disclaimer
All of the information and opinions contained in this blog are made with the information, and the understanding that we have reviewed at the time of publishing. However, despite our efforts, we do not offer any guarantee of their accuracy, thoroughness of our investigation or validity. The author of this blog is not liable for any inaccuracies or any losses or damages that may result from the use of the information or data contained herein. This blog has not been reviewed or verified for its accuracy by any peer group associates prior to publication.