artificial ageing


Laboratory of Accelerated Ageing

SCOPE OF THE LABORATORY ACTIVITIES

	plastic products
	rubber products
	textile products
	tannery products
	surface finishes (varnishes, pigments)

Special sphere of action are products for automotive field (packing, covering, plastic and rubber com-ponents, facial panels, seat padding and door cushioning etc.) that are tested as necessary of producer in a broad ageing indicator spectrum.

TESTING

In laboratory of accelerated ageing are practised the testing of materials and products on terms:

	natural weather ageing
	accelerated weather ageing
	accelerated thermal ageing in the air
	accelerated thermal ageing in the ox
	ozone ageing
	various climatic tests (combination of influence of thermal and moister changes)

Ageing evaluation, or degradation evaluation of materials is executed either by comparison of changes of physical and mechanical properties that are important for usage of the product (for example tenacity, ductility, impact strength, chipping test) before and after exposition and comparison by sight like creation of surface cracks, fissures, delamination, material embrittlement, or colour changes.

Testing apparatus

Material exposition is executed:

	in natural surroundings on an outside stands
	in laboratory on various types of apparatus for ageing testing (Xenotest, Veterometr, Suntest, dryers, climatic chamber, ozonators)

Specific types of testing apparatus intended especially for testing of mechanical fatigue of material in surroundings of dynamic stress are two different types of dedicated dynamic test-rooms. In these test-rooms is possible modelling of cyclic straining of test specimens in elevated temperature, in ozone or in natural outdoor surroundings.

OFFER OF SERVICES

Laboratory testing serves as basis of:

	conformity assessment according to appropriate Czech legislation and/or European Directives
	product or materials characteristics certification
	product certification
	issue of an ATEST
	ssue of a Test Report of Accredited Laboratory