AATCC TM 16.3 Color Fastness to Light Test Method: Xenon-Arc

The AATCC TM 16.3 standard published by the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) describes the general principles and procedures currently in use to determine the color fastness of textile materials to light. The test methods described are applicable to colourants, finishes and treatments applied to all types of textile materials.

The test methods performed under this standard are:

• Indoor carbon arc lamp, continuous light
• Indoor carbon arc lamp, alternating light and dark
• Xenon-arc lamp, continuous light, black panel option
• Xenon-arc lamp, alternating light and dark
• Xenon-arc lamp, continuous light, black standard option
• Sunlight behind the glass

The use of these test methods does not imply, expressly or otherwise, an accelerated test for a particular application. The relationship between any light fastness test and actual exposure in use should be determined and agreed upon by the contracting parties.

These test methods are based on two international standards:

• Developed by the American Test and Materials Establishment: ASTM G155-21 Standard practice for operating xenon arc lamp apparatus for materials exposure. This practice is limited to the basic principles and procedures for operating a xenon arc lamp and water apparatus, by itself it does not yield any particular results.
• Developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO): ISO 4892-2 Plastics - Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources - Part 2: Xenon arc lamps. This standard specifies methods for exposing samples to xenon arc light in the presence of moisture to reproduce the corrosion effects (temperature, humidity, or wetting) that occur when materials are exposed to daylight or filtered sunlight in real end-use environments.

The ability of a textile material to withstand sun exposure is evaluated through accelerated aging with xenon arc testers. These apparatus use xenon in a precision gas discharge lamp in a sealed quartz tube as the radiation source.

Among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors, our organization also provides color fastness test method to light: xenon-arc test services, within the scope of AATCC TM 16.3 standard, with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.