3nh YH1600 Vertical Color & Haze Meter

Overview

The 3nh YH1600 Vertical Color & Haze Meter is a precision benchtop instrument engineered for simultaneous, traceable measurement of haze, total transmittance, and colorimetric parameters of transparent and translucent materials. It operates on the principle of collimated transmission (0°/diffuse geometry) in accordance with ASTM D1003 and ISO 13468 methodologies—supporting both non-compensated (ASTM) and compensated (ISO) haze evaluation modes. The system employs a high-stability 400–700 nm LED light source coupled with a concave holographic grating and a 256-pixel dual-array CMOS spectroradiometer to acquire full spectral transmittance curves at 10 nm intervals. This spectral acquisition enables rigorous calculation of CIE tristimulus values (XYZ), chromaticity coordinates (x,y; u’,v’), and derived color spaces—including CIELAB, LCh, s-RGB, and βxy—under multiple standard illuminants and 2°/10° observers. Designed for laboratory and QC environments, the YH1600 delivers metrological integrity through real-time thermal monitoring of the optical path and dynamic compensation for ambient temperature drift, ensuring long-term stability across repeated measurements.

Key Features

• Dual-standard compliance: Fully supports ASTM D1003 (non-compensated) and ISO 13468 (compensated) haze protocols, as well as ISO 14782, GB/T 2410, and JJF 1303–2011 calibration requirements.
• Multi-illuminant colorimetry: Offers 24 selectable CIE standard illuminants—including D65, D50, A, C, F-series (F1–F12), TL83, TL84, and U30—enabling accurate color evaluation under application-specific lighting conditions.
• High-fidelity spectral acquisition: Utilizes a 256-pixel dual-array CMOS detector with 10 nm spectral bandwidth and integrated temperature compensation to minimize thermal drift-induced errors.
• Modular aperture system: Interchangeable measurement ports (Φ4 mm, Φ8 mm, Φ15 mm, Φ20 mm) allow optimization for sample thickness, homogeneity, and edge effects without recalibration.
• Real-time environmental monitoring: Onboard temperature sensor continuously tracks optical cavity thermal state; firmware applies correction algorithms to maintain spectral fidelity during extended operation.
• Open vertical sample chamber: Accommodates specimens up to 170 mm in thickness and supports both upright and horizontal positioning—ideal for rigid panels, flexible films, liquid cuvettes, and molded optics.
• Integrated quality management interface: Native USB and RS-232 connectivity enable seamless integration into LIMS or ERP systems; Bluetooth support allows wireless data export to mobile devices or networked PCs.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The YH1600 is validated for use across diverse material classes requiring optical clarity assessment: soda-lime and borosilicate glass substrates; injection-molded and extruded thermoplastics (e.g., PC, PMMA, PET, PP); biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) and polyester (PET) films; anti-reflective and AR-coated display cover glasses; pharmaceutical-grade liquid solutions in quartz or borosilicate cuvettes; and laminated packaging structures. Its optical design meets the geometric and photometric requirements of ASTM D1003 Section 7 (instrumental haze measurement), ISO 13468-1:2019 Annex B (compensated integrating sphere method), and ISO 14782:2019 for transmittance accuracy. All factory calibrations are traceable to NIM (National Institute of Metrology, China) reference standards, and instrument performance conforms to JJF 1303–2011 verification procedures for haze meters. For regulated industries—including medical device packaging and ophthalmic lens manufacturing—the system supports audit-ready documentation when paired with optional GLP-compliant software modules.

Software & Data Management

The included SpectraMagic QC software provides a validated platform for statistical process control (SPC), pass/fail thresholding, batch reporting, and multi-parameter trend analysis. Users can define custom test templates combining haze (%), total transmittance (%T), ΔE*00 color difference, YI (ASTM D1925), WI (ASTM E313), and spectral absorbance indices (e.g., Gardner, Platinum-Cobalt). All raw spectral data, metadata (operator ID, timestamp, aperture used, illuminant), and instrument diagnostics are stored with immutable timestamps. Software-generated reports comply with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements when configured with electronic signature and audit trail activation—enabling use in GMP-regulated environments. Data export formats include CSV, XML, PDF, and Excel-compatible .xlsx, facilitating integration with enterprise analytics tools such as JMP or Minitab. Firmware updates and spectral library expansions are distributed via secure HTTPS download from the official 3nh technical portal.

Applications

The YH1600 serves as a primary optical characterization tool in R&D labs and production QA departments across multiple sectors. In flat-panel display manufacturing, it quantifies haze and transmittance of touch sensor overlays and polarizer films under D65 illumination. For automotive glazing suppliers, it verifies compliance with SAE J2222 haze limits for laminated windshields. Medical packaging engineers employ its ISO 13468 compensation mode to assess clarity of sterilization pouches and IV bag films under controlled humidity conditions. Pharmaceutical formulation teams use its high-resolution transmittance curve output to detect subtle aggregation onset in protein therapeutics stored in glass vials. Additionally, the instrument supports ASTM D1044 yellowing index tracking for UV-stabilized polymers and JIS K7136 solar transmittance profiling for architectural glass coatings.

FAQ

Does the YH1600 meet FDA or ISO 17025 requirements for regulated testing?
The instrument itself is not ISO/IEC 17025 accredited, but its measurement methodology, calibration traceability, and software audit trail capabilities support compliance with ISO 17025 Clause 6.4 (equipment) and 6.5 (traceability) when operated within a certified laboratory’s documented procedures.
Can the YH1600 measure liquids directly?
Yes—when used with standardized 10 mm or 20 mm pathlength quartz or borosilicate cuvettes placed in the vertical chamber, it measures liquid transmittance, haze, and color per ASTM D1044 and USP particulate matter guidelines.
Is inter-instrument agreement (IIA) supported?
Yes—interchangeable apertures and factory calibration using NIM-traceable haze standards ensure inter-unit repeatability ≤0.4% haze (Φ20 mm), meeting internal cross-site harmonization needs.
What maintenance is required for long-term accuracy?
Annual verification against certified haze and transmittance standards is recommended; the instrument includes automated self-diagnostics and prompts for zero-calibration before each session using the supplied 0% black trap.
Can spectral data be exported for third-party analysis?
Yes—full 400–700 nm transmittance spectra (31 data points at 10 nm intervals) are exportable in ASCII format for external modeling, multivariate regression, or spectral similarity indexing.