Arizona outdoor exposure testing

Elastocon mediates Q-Lab's outdoor testing of products and materials in desert climate in Arizona. Q-Lab Arizona ranks among the largest desert exposure facilities in the world.

Q-Lab Arizona is located 30 miles west of Phoenix in the town of Buckeye, an area away from automotive, industrial or agricultural pollution. Q-Lab offers natural outdoor exposure testing, Q-TRAC natural sunlight concentrator testing, and specimen evaluation services at Q-Lab Arizona. These contract test services are ISO 17025 accredited.

Why Arizona?

Arizona is an internationally recognized benchmark location for outdoor weathering exposures because of its high-intensity sunlight and high year-around temperatures. Compared with Florida, the Arizona test site offers about 20 % more sunlight, higher annual temperatures, and lower humidity. During the summer, the air temperature may reach 46 °C (115 °F). A black colored specimen may reach over 71 °C (160 °F).

It is this combination of high levels of UV and extremely high temperatures that makes Arizona the ideal location for testing highly durable materials that may not fail elsewhere.

This extreme climate has been proven especially useful for certain types of testing and materials, including:

Mechanical strength loss and physical deterioration of plastics
Thermal expansion effects and CTE mismatches
Maximum service temperature studies
Color change, fading, and gloss loss
Cracking, warping and heat aging of automotive components and signage

More information

Product leaflet: Q-Lab – Arizona.pdf