Ci4400 Xenon Arc Weathering Test Chamber，ISO 105-B02

As modern industry demands higher standards for material weather resistance, lightfastness, and long-term reliability, accelerated aging tests in laboratory environments have become increasingly important. Xenon arc weathering chambers are among the most reliable, controllable, and repeatable instruments for evaluating material durability. They are widely used in research and quality control for plastics, coatings, textiles, rubber, and building materials. The Ci4400 Xenon Arc Weathering Chamber, as a next-generation high-performance device, offers improved consistency, controllability, and operational convenience.

This article provides a comprehensive introduction to the Ci4400. covering its core design, technical specifications, control system, standards compliance, typical applications, and maintenance considerations. It aims to give readers a deep understanding of the principles and value of advanced environmental simulation testing systems.

Overview

A xenon arc weathering chamber uses xenon lamps to simulate the natural solar spectrum, combined with temperature and humidity control, to perform accelerated material aging tests. The core idea is to replicate weathering conditions in a controllable environment using combinations of light intensity, thermal conditions, and humidity cycles, providing a scientific basis for material development and quality evaluation.

The Ci4400 is a medium-to-large, high-performance weathering chamber designed with precise control, multi-standard compatibility, and intelligent operation. Its purpose is to deliver higher uniformity in light, temperature, and humidity, while increasing sample capacity and enhancing test reproducibility within the same chamber space.

Core Design and Technical Features

The Ci4400 incorporates multiple technological innovations and user-oriented optimizations:

Xenon Arc Light System

The core light source is a 6500 W water-cooled xenon lamp system. This high-power light source can simulate ultraviolet (UV), visible, and infrared components of natural sunlight, enabling efficient and realistic light aging simulations. The water-cooling system reduces source temperature, stabilizes lamp output, and extends service life.

The light system supports different filter combinations (e.g., 340 nm, 420 nm, or 300–400 nm spectral ranges), allowing the test spectrum to be adapted to different materials and standards. Filters can be installed according to specific testing goals, enabling precise simulation of real-world light exposure conditions.

Uniform Illumination and Environmental Control

To ensure reproducibility and comparability of results, the Ci4400 has optimized airflow design, irradiance distribution, and control systems, providing uniform temperature, humidity, and light exposure across the testing area. Uniform conditions are critical for reliable accelerated aging results.

The chamber includes a three-tier inclined, removable sample rack design, allowing samples to receive consistent illumination and thermal conditions, which ensures that sample aging is comparable across positions and facilitates data analysis.

Full-Color Touchscreen and Intelligent Operation

The Ci4400 features a 15-inch full-color touchscreen interface that displays test parameters in real time, including irradiance, black panel temperature, humidity, and air temperature. Users can set and control test modules directly, define test plans, monitor real-time curves, set diagnostic thresholds, and adjust programs conveniently.

The device includes 14 factory preset test methods and 12 customizable program spaces, supporting complex sub-cycle configurations and multi-stage aging tests. This flexibility allows the Ci4400 to accommodate a wide range of testing requirements.

Multilingual Interface and Data Management

The intelligent interface supports multiple languages, including English, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Spanish, facilitating international laboratory use. Data can be exported in real time via Ethernet or USB for analysis and archival purposes.

Intelligent Safety and System Monitoring

The built-in SmartLight™ monitoring system automatically detects proper installation of light source components, preventing test fluctuations caused by incorrect assembly. The water quality monitoring system continuously evaluates the water-cooling system, triggering alarms if water quality is inadequate. Test status indicator lights and diagnostic messages further enhance operational safety and user experience.

Other safety features, including door locks, universal electrical compatibility, and CE/ISO safety compliance, ensure stable operation under various regional and environmental conditions.

Working Principle and Control Logic

Like all xenon arc aging equipment, the Ci4400 accelerates material aging by simulating environmental factors such as sunlight, rainfall, and diurnal temperature variations. Its operation is based on three main aspects:

Light Simulation

Solar radiation is a key driver of material aging. Xenon lamps provide UV, visible, and near-infrared light, with energy distribution adjustable via filters. This allows samples to receive, in a short period, the equivalent irradiance of years of outdoor exposure.

Adjustable spectral ranges (340 nm, 420 nm, or 300–400 nm) allow tests to closely replicate the end-use conditions of specific materials. For example, some plastics are more sensitive to mid-wave UV, while certain coatings require broad-spectrum aging evaluation.

Temperature and Humidity Control

Temperature is another critical factor in aging. The Ci4400 controls air temperature while precisely regulating Black Panel Temperature (BPT) or Black Standard Temperature (BST), ensuring that sample surface temperatures approximate real outdoor conditions.

Humidity can be set and maintained to simulate wet-dry cycles, and the optional spray system allows intermittent or periodic water exposure, mimicking rainfall or dew effects on materials.

Automated Cycles and Data Logging

Once test parameters are programmed, the Ci4400 automatically executes the complete aging cycle, including light, humidity, and temperature stages. All key metrics are collected and recorded in real time, providing detailed data for subsequent analysis.

Core Technical Specifications

Light Source and Exposure Area

Type and Power: 6500 W water-cooled xenon lamp, providing stable, continuous irradiance.

Adjustable Spectral Range: 340 nm, 420 nm, and 300–400 nm, compatible with diverse materials and standards.

Exposure Area: Approximately 7300 cm², accommodating larger batches of samples.

Sample Rack: Three-tier inclined removable structure improves airflow and light uniformity while facilitating handling and maintenance.

Environmental Control Range

Black Panel Temperature: Adjustable BPT/BST to achieve realistic surface thermal conditions.

Relative Humidity: Adjustable to support wet heat cycle testing.

Air Temperature: Independent control of chamber air temperature to simulate complex environmental conditions.

Communication/Data Output: Real-time data export via Ethernet or USB for lab management and analysis.

Standards Compliance

The Ci4400 meets multiple international standards for weathering and aging testing, ensuring reliability and industry recognition. Applicable standards include:

Colorfastness and light aging standards, including those for textiles.

Weathering test methods for building sealants and related materials.

ASTM and ISO series standards for lightfastness and material weathering across multiple material types.

These standards cover plastics, textiles, building materials, and sealants, making the Ci4400 suitable for broad aging evaluation and industry-compliant testing.

Typical Applications

Plastics and Polymers

Plastics exposed outdoors may chalk, crack, or fade. High-intensity light and controlled temperature-humidity cycles allow rapid evaluation of formulation stability, additive performance, and weather resistance.

Coatings and Paints

Coatings face UV radiation and humidity changes. Controlled spectral and humidity cycles enable evaluation of fading, peeling, and degradation trends, supporting formulation improvements.

Textiles

Textiles may fade or weaken under sunlight and wet heat. The chamber simulates outdoor exposure quickly, enhancing the reproducibility and reliability of colorfastness and lightfastness tests.

Automotive and Industrial Components

Materials for interior/exterior automotive parts, sealants, and structural components require long-term weathering validation. Dynamic control of light and thermal-humidity cycles reveals performance trends under extreme conditions.

Usage Considerations

Regular Calibration of Light Sources and Sensors: Xenon lamps may degrade over time; regular calibration ensures accurate test results.

Maintain Water-Cooling System: Clean and monitor water quality to prevent performance issues.

Follow Standardized Test Cycles: Set light, temperature, and humidity parameters according to material and standard requirements to ensure reproducibility and comparability.

The Ci4400 Xenon Arc Weathering Chamber integrates high-power stable light sources, precise environmental control, multilingual intelligent operation, and international standard compatibility. It is widely used in research laboratories, material development centers, and industry certification labs to reliably evaluate material durability under extreme light, temperature, and humidity conditions.

By precisely controlling spectral composition, irradiance, temperature, and humidity, while supporting complex cycles and data export, the Ci4400 provides comprehensive experimental data for material weathering and lightfastness. This enables researchers to optimize formulations, improve product quality, and reduce performance risks in real-world applications.