The QUV test: how long does it take for your product to discolour?

With the QUV test, you can check your product’s resistance to sunlight, heat and moisture according to ISO standards. This test simulates the effect of years of weather conditions in a few weeks and is the most widely used test worldwide for simulating ageing by UV light.

Would you like to check the UV light resistance of your product using the QUV test?

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Advantages M2LAB

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Because we are in no way affiliated with importers or manufacturers, our reports are 100% independent. This ensures maximum trust with your customers.

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Through our customer portal you always have access to the latest photos and measurement results of each order and you can easily see for each order when you can expect the report.

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Due to a high degree of automation, our reports have a very professional appearance and are error-free at all times.

What the QUV test measures

The QUV test is a weathering test [link to main page] and is used to check the resistance to UV light, moisture and heat. It is intended in particular for products that are (frequently) used outdoors, such as façade elements, vehicles, patio furniture and outdoor lamps.

In a short period of time, this weathering test simulates the long-term influence of sun and moisture on a coating or plastic.

Possibilities during testing

The QUV test uses only light from the UV spectrum (340 nm). This is UVA light as standard, but it is also possible to test with UVB light (313 nm).

In most cases, testing is done using a combination of light and water vapour. This simulates what happens in practice during the day and at night (sunlight and dew). Often this is 4 hours of light and 4 hours of condensation, but sometimes also 8 hours of light and 4 hours of water condensation.

Would you like to know which test is most suitable for your product?

These materials are suitable

The QUV test is designed for:

Coatings on all possible surfaces;
Plastic surfaces with or without coating

Do you want to have a different material tested? Call 013 – 463 06 88 for the options.

The QUV test can be performed according to the following quality standards

As standard, we perform the QUV test according to the quality standard ISO 4892-3 and NEN-ISO 16474, both using UVA light. On request, we can also test according to other ISO and ASTM standards.

Working method

The test material is exposed alternately to UV light and moisture in a climate chamber, where the temperature is set according to the applicable quality standard.

During the QUV test, special UV fluorescent lamps simulate the effect of UV radiation in sunlight. The climate chamber also allows condensation to form on the test material in a controlled manner to simulate dew.

Duration of the QUV test

The correlation between the QUV test and practice depends on several factors, including the type of material and the application of the product. We can only determine this exact correlation if we have field data that we can compare with the laboratory results.

In theory, 500 hours of testing with artificial UVA lamps is roughly equivalent to a year of sunlight, heat and moisture in Western Europe. In practice, however, it is often more like 250 hours for a year.

Please note that this is only a rule of thumb. Please contact the M2LAB specialists for advice on the test duration relevant to your situation and product.

Reporting and advice

Within five working days after completing the QUV test, you will receive a report with the results. After reading the report, you may still need advice on how to improve the quality of the product. As a specialist in the field of industrial surface treatment, our staff is always available to offer you advice.

Call +31 (0)13 – 463 06 88 for more information about the lead times for your required laboratory tests.