ASTM_F_1515_-_15.pdf

Designation:F151515Standard Test Method forMeasuring Light Stability of Resilient Flooring by ColorChange1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1515;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This test method covers a procedure for determining theresistance of resilient floor covering to color change fromexposure to light over a specified period of time.1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D2244 Practice for Calculation of Color Tolerances andColor Differences from Instrumentally Measured ColorCoordinatesD4459 Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposure of Plastics In-tended for Indoor ApplicationsE177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias inASTM Test MethodsE691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study toDetermine the Precision of a Test MethodG151 Practice for Exposing Nonmetallic Materials inAccel-erated Test Devices that Use Laboratory Light SourcesG155 Practice for Operating Xenon Arc Light Apparatus forExposure of Non-Metallic MaterialsG177 Tables for Reference Solar Ultraviolet Spectral Distri-butions:Hemispherical on 37 Tilted Surface3.Summary of Practice3.1 Specimens are exposed continuously at a controlledtemperature and humidity to a properly filtered xenon-arcradiant-energy source.The filters selected are to simulateindoor exposure conditions behind window glass.See PracticeD4459.3.2 To ensure uniform exposure,periodic specimen reposi-tioning is a good practice to reduce the variability in exposurestresses experienced during the test interval.NOTE1See Practice G151 for guidance on repositioning of speci-mens.3.3 The effect of radiation(actinic and thermal)on thespecimen shall be the color difference between the specimenbefore and after exposure.4.Significance and Use4.1 Resilient floor covering is made by fusing polymermaterials under heat or pressure,or both,in various manufac-turing and decorating processes.The polymer material may becompounded with plasticizers,stabilizers,fillers,and otheringredients for processability and product performance char-acteristics.The formulation of the compound can be variedconsiderably depending on the desired performance character-istics and methods of processing.4.2 Light stability,which is resistance to discoloration fromlight,is a basic requirement for functional use.4.3 This test method provides a means of measuring theamount of color change in flooring products when subjected toaccelerated light exposure over a period of time(functional useof the flooring product).4.4 This test method specifies that a sample is measured bya spectrophotometer and expressed in E*units before andafter accelerated light exposure.NOTE2It is the intent that this test method be used for testing lightstability performance properties to be referenced in resilient flooringspecifications.5.Apparatus5.1 The apparatus employed shall utilize either a water-cooled or air-cooled xenon-arc lamp as the source of radiationas described in Practices D4459 or G155.5.2 Xenon Light SourceThe xenon light source consists ofa quartz-jacketed burner tube charged with xenon gas.1This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F06 on ResilientFloor Coverings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F06.30 on TestMethods-Performance.Current edition approved Dec.15,2015.Published January 2016.Originallyapproved in 1995.Last previous edition approved in 2008 as F1515 03(2008).DOI:10.1520/F151515.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 5.3 Glass FiltersTable 1 shows the relative spectral powerdistribution limits of xenon-arcs filtered for simulating abehind window-glass exposure.5.4 Light MonitorThe light monitor shall be capable ofmeasuring spectral irradiance at either 340 nm or at300 to 400 nm incident to the specimen.5.5 Black Panel Temperature(BPT)SensorA black-coated stainless steel panel,as specified in Practice G155,should be used as the standard reference to control testtemperature.(Alternative devices such as the Black StandardThermometer(BST)described in Practice G151 may be used.The BST equivalent to the BPT=145F(63C)has been foundto be approximately 153F(67C).5.6 A suitable spectrophotometer or colorimeter with amin