Evaluation Services



Atlas offers a wide range of evaluation and measurement services for our client's specimens during and after the weathering process. These services are available at Atlas' Miami, Florida and Phoenix, Arizona sites. Atlas uses the most advanced instrumentation from leading manufacturers for measuring appearance properties such as color change, gloss, distinctness-of-image, transmittance and reflectance. All of our services meet the latest measurement test standards from organizations such as ASTM, ISO, DIN and others. A full range of visual assessment services is also available, including coating adhesion, blistering, chalking, cracking, mildew growth, and gray scale evaluation in accordance with respective standards' organizations. Temperature monitoring programs are provided for single and multiple specimens under any type of exposure, as well as for large assemblies such as complete vehicles. Strict quality control guidelines have enabled Atlas' Evaluations Laboratory to achieve industry-accepted accreditation from world renowned standards' organizations. Atlas is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) and accredited or approved by Ford, GM and AMECA. For any additional information, please e-mail us at info@atlas-mts.com or call at 1-800-255-3738 or (623) 465-7356.

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Color Measurements

Spectrophotometric color measurements are offered at both the Florida and the Arizona test site. All European sites perform color measurements using a Minolta Spectrophotometer CM-3600d. The color transmittance or reflectance data can be recorded in several different color coordinate systems, including CIE Lab, HunterLab, CIE XYZ, CMC, yellowness or whiteness indices. Measurement parameters include Illuminants C, D65, F2 and others. We also offer 2° or 10° observers. Reflectance can be performed with the specular included or excluded. Portable spectro-colorimeters are available to perform field measurements. All tests are performed in accordance with industry standards such as ASTM E308, D2244, SAE J1545, ISO 105 B05, ISO 7724-2, ISO 7724-3, and DIN 6174. In addition, each of our laboratories participates in collaborative test service programs, available to the entire industry. The following table gives a full matrix of options for color measurements.

Availability of scale, attribute and geometric options for color measurements:

  Colorimetry  Spectrophotometry 
  Spectral Array Scanning
   LabScan   UltraScan   MiniScan

 (Portable) 		  OMA/   Beckman

5240 
 COLOR SCALES  XYZ
Yxy
Lab
CIELAB
Rdab  
ANLAB  
 λ E, λ C, etc. Lab
CIELAB
Rdab
FMC2
CMC  
 ILLUMINANT A
C
D65
F2
TL4
UL3  
D50  
D60  
D75    
 OBSERVER 2°
10°
 INDICES WI(E313)
WI(CIE)
YI(D1925)
YI(E313)
MI 1
Z%
Dom 2  
K/S  
Color Str.  
Opt. Den.  

Performed Routinely
Requires Computer Manipulation
Request quotation
1 Metamerism Index
2 Dominant Wavelength


Gloss Measurements

Atlas uses portable and benchtop BYK Gardner glossmeters for both laboratory and field measurements at 20°, 60°, 75°, and 85°. Atlas also offers distinctness-of-reflective-image (DOI) testing. Distinctness-of-reflective-image is easily defined as the sharpness with which an object's outlines are reflected by a surface. This measurement is predominantly used by automotive and architectural coatings manufacturers to characterize a desired appearance for the end product. The HunterLab Dorigon® series of instruments are used to make DOI measurements, as well as narrow angle haze measurements. The following chart lists the applicable test standards met by Atlas for both gloss and DOI testing.

 TEST METHOD   APPLICABLE STANDARDS 
 Gloss  ASTM D523
 DIN 67530
 ISO 2813
 ISO 7668
 Distinctness of Image (DOI)   ASTM E430


Visual Assessment

A variety of visual evaluations are available for rating degradation phenomena on specimens associated with the weathering process. Both the Arizona and Florida evaluations labs utilize ASTM pictorial standards to rate failure modes such as: checking, cracking and blistering. Assessment techniques like tape chalk, velvet chalk, adhesion, AATCC or ISO grey scale, edge penetration of glass laminatesare also available. Formal reports are generated using Atlas-developed inspection formats. Special formats following manufacturer's specifications such as GM 7454M or GM 9538P can be provided. Additional services are routinely requested and can usually be satisfied. The following chart lists the applicable test standards realized by Atlas for visual assessment.

 TEST METHOD   APPLICABLE STANDARDS 
 Adhesion  ASTM D3359, GM 9071P
 Blistering   ASTM D714, ISO 4628-2
 Chalking   ASTM D4214, ISO 4628-6
 Checking   ASTM D660, ISO 4628-5
 Checking   ASTM D661, ISO 4628-4
 Erosion   ASTM D662
 Grey Scale Evaluation   AATCC Evaluation Procedure 1 
 ASTM D2616
 DIN EN 20105-A02
 ISO 105 A02


Spectrophotometry

Absolute or relative spectral measurements as a function of incident angle that meet or exceed the requirements of ASTM E308 and E903 are available. The instrument is a Beckman 5240 Spectrophotometer, equipped with specially designed integrating spheres. Data for UV-VIS-NIR measurements include a report and one normalization (e.g., solar transmittance or reflectance, color, chromaticity, etc.).

Emittance

Emittance measurements can be performed that meet the requirements of ASTM E408. Method A of ASTM E408 uses a Gier-Dunkle DB-100 emissometer, which measures wavelength range of 2.5-40 microns.

Transmission Haze and Clarity

Atlas uses a BYK Gardner Haze-Gard Model 4725 to measure haze, total transmittance, and clarity. This instrument conforms to ASTM D1003 and is used in conjunction with SAE J576 exposure programs. The specimen surface is illuminated perpendicularly with the transmitted light, measured with an integrating sphere (0°/diffuse geometry). The spectral sensitivity conforms to CIE standard spectral value function "Y" under illuminant C with a 2° observer.

Temperature Studies

Temperature data on all types of materials in most configurations can be provided at the Arizona and Florida evaluations labs. Temperature monitoring programs can be provided for single and multiple specimens under any type of exposure, as well as for large assemblies such as complete vehicles. Specialized test programs can be provided to meet almost any requirement. Our sites provide both manual and automatic measurements. Manual, or non-recording, measurements are taken by a hand-held digital thermometer at specified points throughout the day (i.e. solar noon, the hottest part of the day). Automatic, or continuously recording, measurements are taken with a programmed data acquisition system. Daily profiles, ambient temperatures, irradiance measurements, basic statistics, and other reports are available upon request. Data is reported by hard copy tables, graphs and/or sent on a disk in one of several industry-standard spreadsheet programs.

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