Radiation map - Evaluate Plastic UV Resistance by Region

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PLASTIC UV RESISTANCEEvaluating quality of plastic and UV resistanceMost polymers used in plastic materials are susceptible to substantial degradationcaused by sunlight, in particular the ultraviolet segment of the light spectrum.Solar radiation is commonly divided into various regions or bands on the basis oflight wavelength. UV Ultraviolet radiation is that part of the electromagneticspectrum with wavelength between 100 and 400 nm.Plastic materials used outdoor are fully exposed to the UV radiation generated bythe sun, present even on cloudy days. When ultraviolet attack occurs the materialmay have a color shift, become brittle and chalky on its surface, crack. This canhappen in a very short time and have negative, unpredictable and even dangerouseffects on your application.

Avoid the risk that your plastic material is subject to quick UV degradationAlways ask for quality plastic materials made with polymers properly treated tostrongly reduce UV degradation. Plastic UV resistance is not visible and thereforehas to be guaranteed by your manufacturer. We supply high quality UV treatedplastics for all our products studied for outdoor use.

Calculate the UV exposure in your particular regionPlastic UV resistance, if generically expressed in years, is meaningless.In the world of professional applications plastic life depends on the total amount ofUV radiation your material is exposed to. This is changing from one geographicalregion to another as solar radiation is unevenly distributed throughout the worldbecause of such variables as solar altitude, which is associated with latitude andseason, and atmospheric conditions, which are determined by cloud coverage anddegree of pollution. Furthermore the total solar radiation received at ground levelconsists also of different components such as direct and indirect radiation(scattered, diffused, or reflected).World maps illustrating the isolines of the mean global solar radiation (both directand diffuse radiations) have been developed using data provided by satellites.Download our Radiation Map and determine the average radiation level in yourregion, commonly expressed in kilo Langley per year (kLy/yr).For example in most Northern Europe the average radiation level is 80-100Kly/year as it can be seen on our Map.

Ask for your product UV resistance factorWe provide, for all products where this measure is applicable, a UV resistancefactor, expressed as total radiation for the minimum product lifetime. For exampleif your product is rated 500 kLy/yr and you will use it outdoor in Northern Europe,assuming radiation is at a level of maximum 100 kLy/yr, your product will have aUV life of minimum 500 / 100 = 5 years.

How does UV resistance relates to other measures of radiation power?The Langley as unit of measure for radiation power takes its name from NASALangley Research Center which studies the impact of sun radiation on Earth.

1 kLy = 1 kcal/cm2 = 41.84 MJ/m2

1 kLy/yr = 1.33 W/m2

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