Significance and Use
The surface of white or light-colored vulcanized rubber articles, or vulcanized rubber covered with an organic finish, may discolor when exposed to conditions of humidity, or moisture, heat, and sunlight. This change in color of light-colored rubber surfaces is objectionable to the consumer.
Results obtained should be treated only as indicating the effect of irradiance from the specified source (either UVA-340 lamps or a xenon arc with a Daylight Filter) and not as equivalent to the result of any natural exposure, unless the degree of quantitative correlation has been empirically established for the material in question.
This test method may be used for producer-consumer acceptance, referee purposes, and research and development work.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers techniques to evaluate the surface discoloration of white or light-colored vulcanized rubber that may occur when subjected to UV or UV/visible exposure from specified sources under controlled conditions of relative humidity, or moisture, and temperature.
1.2 This test method also describes how to qualitatively evaluate the degree of discoloration produced under such conditions.
1.3 The term "discoloration" applies to a color change of the rubber sample, as distinguished from staining (see ), that refers to a color change of a metal finish in contact with or adjacent to the rubber specimen.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
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.
Tests for staining are covered by Test Methods D 925.
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
D925 Test Methods for Rubber Property--Staining of Surfaces (Contact, Migration, and Diffusion)
D2244 Practice for Calculation of Color Tolerances and Color Differences from Instrumentally Measured Color Coordinates
D3182 Practice for Rubber--Materials, Equipment, and Procedures for Mixing Standard Compounds and Preparing Standard Vulcanized Sheets
D3183 Practice for Rubber--Preparation of Pieces for Test Purposes from Products
G151 Practice for Exposing Nonmetallic Materials in Accelerated Test Devices that Use Laboratory Light Sources
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
Keywords
fluorescent UV; heat discoloration; rubber products; ultraviolet; ultraviolet light discoloration; UVA-340; xenon arc;
ICS Code
ICS Number Code 83.060 (Rubber)
DOI: 10.1520/D1148-07A
ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.
Citing ASTM Standards
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