1. Scope

1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the relative lightfastness and weatherability of printed matter under the following seven conditions, of which two involve exposure to natural daylight and five involve accelerated procedures in the laboratory:

1.1.1 Test Method 1 --Daylight behind window glass,

1.1.2 Test Method 2--Outdoor weathering,

1.1.3 Test Method 3 --Xenon-arc apparatus with window glass filters to simulate daylight behind window glass,

1.1.4 Test Method 4 --Xenon-arc apparatus with water spray and daylight filters to simulate outdoor weathering,

1.1.5 Test Method 5 --Enclosed carbon-arc apparatus without water spray,

1.1.6 Test Method 6Enclosed carbon-arc apparatus with water spray, and

1.1.7 Test Method 7 --Fluorescent lamp apparatus to simulate indoor fluorescent lighting in combination with window-filtered daylight.

1.2 These test methods require that a suitable print or other control (reference standard) be run along with the test sample. Color changes due to conditions of exposure may be evaluated by visual examination or instrumental measurement.

1.3 These test methods are applicable to prints on any flat substrate including paper, paperboard, metallic foil, metal plate, and plastic film, and are produced by any printing process including letterpress, offset lithography, flexography, gravure, and silk screen.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Section 8.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

D1729 Practice for Visual Appraisal of Colors and Color Differences of Diffusely-Illuminated Opaque Materials

D2244 Practice for Calculation of Color Tolerances and Color Differences from Instrumentally Measured Color Coordinates

D2616 Test Method for Evaluation of Visual Color Difference With a Gray Scale

D4302 Specification for Artists Oil, Resin-Oil, and Alkyd Paints

D4674 Practice for Accelerated Testing for Color Stability of Plastics Exposed to Indoor Office Environments

D5067 Specification for Artists Watercolor Paints

D5098 Specification for Artists Acrylic Dispersion Paints

E284 Terminology of Appearance

E991 Practice for Color Measurement of Fluorescent Specimens Using the One-Monochromator Method

E1331 Test Method for Reflectance Factor and Color by Spectrophotometry Using Hemispherical Geometry

E1347 Test Method for Color and Color-Difference Measurement by Tristimulus Colorimetry

E1349 Test Method for Reflectance Factor and Color by Spectrophotometry Using Bidirectional (45:0 or 0:45) Geometry

G7 Practice for Atmospheric Environmental Exposure Testing of Nonmetallic Materials

G24 Practice for Conducting Exposures to Daylight Filtered Through Glass

G113 Terminology Relating to Natural and Artificial Weathering Tests of Nonmetallic Materials

G151 Practice for Exposing Nonmetallic Materials in Accelerated Test Devices that Use Laboratory Light Sources

G153 Practice for Operating Enclosed Carbon Arc Light Apparatus for Exposure of Nonmetallic Materials

G154 Practice for Operating Fluorescent Light Apparatus for UV Exposure of Nonmetallic Materials

G155 Practice for Operating Xenon Arc Light Apparatus for Exposure of Non-Metallic Materials

ANSI Standard

ISO Standard

Keywords

accelerated exposure; carbon-arc apparatus; color difference measurements; daylight behind window glass; fluorescent lamp apparatus; gray scale; lightfastness; outdoor exposure; printed matter; printing inks; weatherfastness; xenon-arc apparatus; Carbon-arc light exposure; Accelerated aging/testing--paints/related coatings; Color--lightfastness; Color difference measurements; Daylight through window glass; Exposure tests--light; Exterior exposure tests; Fluorescent lamps/lighting; Gray scale; Ink; Light exposure; Lightfastness; Nonheatset printing inks; Nonvolatile matter content; Paper; Printed matter; Volatile organic compounds (VOC)--paints/related coatings; Weathering; Xenon-arc light exposure;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 87.080 (Inks. Printing inks)

DOI: 10.1520/D3424-98

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