Frontier Lab Multi-Sample UV Irradiator

Significance of the Topic

UV-driven degradation of polymers underpins their long-term performance in applications ranging from outdoor coatings to automotive components. Accelerated UV aging tests enable rapid assessment of material durability and help predict service life in real-world conditions. Combining controlled UV irradiation with evolved-gas and pyrolysis GC/MS analysis offers detailed insight into chemical changes during photooxidation.

Objectives and Study Overview

This work presents the Multi-Sample UV Irradiator (UV-1048E) as an accessory to the Micro-UV Irradiator (UV-1047Xe). The study aims to enhance throughput by irradiating up to 18 polymer samples simultaneously and to integrate the UV exposure step seamlessly with UV/Py-GC/MS analysis for accelerated deterioration studies.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Samples are loaded into individual cups on a rotating holder and exposed to UV light from an external Xe lamp source (UV-1047Xe). Temperature of the sample holder is maintained between 40 °C and 80 °C to simulate accelerated aging. After preset irradiation time and intensity, irradiated specimens are transferred for Evolved-Gas Analysis (EGA) or flash pyrolysis GC/MS without additional sample handling.

Instrumentation Used

• UV-1048E Irradiation Chamber with rotating sample holder (up to 18 cups)
• Temperature Controller (40 – 80 °C, 0–80 rpm)
• Optical Fiber Cable (heat resistance up to 150 °C at edge)
• Micro-UV Irradiator UV-1047Xe with Xe lamp (UV source)
• Multi-functional Pyrolyzer coupled to GC/MS for EGA or Py-GC/MS

Main Results and Discussion

Comparison of high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) thermograms shows that 12 h irradiation with UV-1048E produces equivalent degradation to 1 h exposure using the single-sample UV-1047Xe. The broadened EGA peaks after UV treatment confirm polymer chain scission and formation of low-molecular-weight fragments. The effective deterioration rate of UV-1048E is approximately one-tenth that of UV-1047Xe under the tested conditions, enabling more controlled aging profiles.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• High throughput: simultaneous irradiation of up to 18 samples reduces test time.
• Uniform exposure: rotating holder ensures consistent UV dose across all specimens.
• Compact bench-top design: suitable for routine QA/QC and research laboratories.
• Seamless integration: direct coupling with UV/Py-GC/MS accelerates analysis workflow.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Future developments may include automated sample handling, expanded wavelength options for targeted photo-oxidation studies, and integration with chemometric or machine-learning tools for real-time degradation monitoring. Applying this multi-sample approach to other polymer classes and additive systems could further broaden its utility in material science and product development.

Conclusion

The UV-1048E Multi-Sample UV Irradiator significantly improves the efficiency and reproducibility of accelerated UV aging tests for polymers. Its compatibility with UV/Py-GC/MS analysis provides a comprehensive platform for studying degradation mechanisms and supports high-throughput quality control and research applications.