USAQUV Fluorescent UV lamps
Fluorescent UV lamps are inherently more stable than other types of lamps, including xenon arc lamps. The spectral irradiance (or spectral power distribution, SPD) does not change with lamp aging, even up to 8,000 hours. This gives more reproducible test results, fewer lamp changes, and lower operational costs.
Q-Lab produces more UV lamps than the rest of the weathering industry combined. Q-Lab's lamps are specially engineered to our own proprietary specifications, based on our 50+ years of experience with fluorescent UV technology. We have the most stringent quality control testing in the industry. The result is that the QUV tester provides the most consistent, stable spectrum, year after year.
Several different types of UV lamps are available for different applications, listed below along with links to their Spectral Irradiance (or Spectral Power Distribution, SPD).
UVA-340
The QUV tester’s UVA-340 lamps give the best simulation of sunlight in the critical short wavelength region from 365 nm down to the solar cut-on of 295 nm.
UVA-340+
UVA-340+ lamps offer the same spectrum as UVA-340 lamps but provide longer lifetime at high irradiance setpoints.
UVA-351
The QUV UV tester’s UVA-351 lamps simulate the UV portion of sunlight filtered through window glass. They are most useful for testing interior applications and reproducing polymer damage that can occur in an environment near a window.
UVB-313EL
The QUV tester’s UVB-313EL lamps maximize acceleration by utilizing shortwave UV that is more severe than the UV normally found at the earth’s surface. Consequently, these lamps may produce unrealistically severe results for some materials. UVB-313EL lamps are most useful for QC and R&D applications, or for testing very durable materials.
UVB-313EL+
UVB-313EL+ lamps offer nearly the same spectrum as UVB-313EL lamps, but provide longer lifetime at high irradiance setpoints.
UVC-254
UVC lamps deliver high-intensity, monochromatic, shortwave UV light at 254 nm, which is well below the solar cut-on. This wavelength represents the most common type of UVC emission used for disinfection of surfaces exposed to harmful bacteria and viruses. While it can kill these pathogens effectively, UVC light can also cause photodegradation of plastics, coatings, and fabrics. UVC lamps reproduce this damaging irradiance, in order to evaluate durability of materials exposed to UVC light.
QFS-40
Also known as FS-40 or F40 UVB, this is the original QUV lamp, with a spectrum most like a UVB-313 lamp. FS-40 lamps are still specified in a few legacy automotive test methods. QFS-40 lamps should only be used in the QUV/basic tester.
Cool White
The QUV UV test chamber’s cool white lamps (used only in model QUV/cw) effectively reproduce and accelerate indoor lighting conditions encountered in office and commercial environments as well as retail display lighting.
TUV-421
TUV-421 lamps provide the same excellent shortwave UV match to natural sunlight as UVA-340 lamps, but with the addition of long-wavelength UV and short-wavelength visible light. This helps reproduce color change effects in materials sensitive to longer-wavelength irradiance.
