Atlas Xenotest 440 Xenon Arc Weathering Test Chamber
| Brand | ATLAS |
|---|---|
| Origin | USA |
| Model | Xenotest 440 |
| Lamp Configuration | Two 2200 W air-cooled xenon arc lamps |
| Irradiance Range | Up to 120 W/m² (300–400 nm) |
| Exposure Area | 2310 cm² |
| Humidity Control | 10–75% RH (during light cycle) |
| Temperature Control | Chamber Temperature (CHT) up to 65 °C |
| Sample Capacity | 38 positions (13.5 × 4.5 cm), 33 (10.0 × 6.8 cm), 22 (13.5 × 5.5 cm), or 11 (29.5 × 7.0 cm) on rotating sample rack |
| Humidification System | Ultrasonic humidifier with integrated 60 L water reservoir (auto-refill enabled) |
| Irradiance Monitoring | XENONSENSIV® RC-300-400 BST sensor for real-time 300–400 nm irradiance (W/m²) and black standard temperature (°C) |
| Filtration | UV-transmitting quartz filter sleeves |
| Viewing Window | UV-protected safety glass |
| Data Interface | RS-232 serial port, Ethernet (for XenoTouch remote services: Remote Control, Email Alert, Online Monitoring) |
| Internal Memory | Onboard flash storage for test logs and diagnostics |
| User Interface | Full-color capacitive touchscreen with multilingual OS (English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Hungarian, Czech, Turkish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese) |
Overview
The Atlas Xenotest 440 is a high-performance, air-cooled xenon arc weathering test chamber engineered for accelerated simulation of solar radiation, temperature, and humidity effects on polymeric, automotive, textile, coating, and architectural materials. It operates on the principle of xenon arc irradiation—mimicking full-spectrum sunlight (290–800 nm) through precisely filtered output—to replicate natural outdoor exposure in controlled laboratory conditions. Unlike UV fluorescent or metal halide systems, xenon arc technology delivers spectrally accurate irradiance across UV, visible, and near-infrared bands, enabling compliance with critical international standards including ISO 4892-2, ASTM G155, SAE J2527, and AATCC TM16. The instrument’s core architecture integrates dual 2200 W xenon lamps with patented XenoLogic™ lamp management, which dynamically balances spectral output and thermal load to sustain stable irradiance at up to 120 W/m² (300–400 nm) while extending lamp service life beyond 4000 hours under typical 40–60 W/m² operational settings.
Key Features
- Two independently regulated 2200 W air-cooled xenon arc lamps with XenoLogic™ dual-lamp operation for enhanced spectral stability and extended lamp lifetime
- 2310 cm² effective exposure area with motorized rotating sample rack accommodating up to 38 specimens (13.5 × 4.5 cm) or alternative configurations for larger formats
- Real-time closed-loop control of irradiance (300–400 nm), black standard temperature (BST), chamber temperature (CHT), and relative humidity (10–75% RH during light phase)
- XENONSENSIV® RC-300-400 sensor system providing simultaneous, traceable measurement of irradiance (W/m²) and BST (°C) directly at the specimen plane
- Ultrasonic humidification with 60 L integrated reservoir and auto-refill functionality—eliminating manual top-up during extended test cycles
- UV-transmitting quartz filter sleeves ensuring consistent spectral distribution and long-term optical integrity
- Full-color capacitive touchscreen interface supporting 13 languages and storing up to 10 user-defined test profiles with parameter recall
- Comprehensive diagnostics dashboard displaying lamp status, cooling performance, humidity saturation, and sensor health metrics
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The Xenotest 440 accommodates rigid, flexible, and composite specimens across diverse geometries—including flat panels, molded parts, and coated substrates—without requiring custom fixtures. Its rotating sample rack ensures uniform irradiance distribution and mitigates edge-effects common in static exposure systems. All operational parameters align with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and quality assurance frameworks: irradiance calibration is traceable to NIST-certified reference sensors; temperature controllers meet ASTM E74 and ISO/IEC 17025 requirements for thermal measurement uncertainty; humidity control adheres to ISO 17025-compliant hygrometric validation protocols. The system supports full audit trails when operated under FDA 21 CFR Part 11-compliant software environments (via optional XenoTouch integration), making it suitable for regulated industries including medical device packaging, aerospace coatings, and automotive OEM validation.
Software & Data Management
Test execution, parameter logging, and alarm handling are managed via the embedded firmware with local data retention on industrial-grade flash memory. Raw and processed data—including time-stamped irradiance, BST, CHT, RH, and diagnostic codes—are exportable via RS-232 or Ethernet to external LIMS or QA databases. Optional XenoTouch connectivity enables remote monitoring through secure HTTPS interfaces, scheduled email notifications for test completion or fault conditions, and synchronized timestamping across geographically distributed labs. All data files conform to ASTM E2912-compliant structured CSV format, facilitating direct import into statistical process control (SPC) platforms and automated reporting tools used in ISO 9001-certified quality systems.
Applications
The Xenotest 440 serves as a primary tool for predictive durability assessment in R&D and QC laboratories. It is routinely deployed for evaluating color fade resistance in automotive interior trims per SAE J2412; gloss retention in architectural sealants per ASTM D4329; chalking and cracking behavior in PVC roofing membranes per ASTM D4798; and photostability of pharmaceutical packaging per ICH Q1B. Its ability to decouple UV intensity from thermal loading allows researchers to isolate photochemical degradation mechanisms from thermally accelerated aging—a capability essential for failure mode analysis in polymer science and additive development.
FAQ
What standards does the Xenotest 440 support?
It complies with ISO 4892-2, ASTM G155, ASTM D4329, SAE J2527, SAE J2412, AATCC TM16, and GB/T 16422.2.
Can irradiance be calibrated in-house?
Yes—using an optional NIST-traceable irradiance calibrator and the built-in sensor alignment routine per ISO 17025 guidelines.
Is spray functionality included?
Yes—the integrated 60 L reservoir supports automatic sample wetting cycles synchronized with light/dark phases per ASTM G155 Cycle 1–7.
How is lamp aging compensated during long-term tests?
XenoLogic™ continuously adjusts lamp power and filter positioning to maintain setpoint irradiance, with automatic recalibration triggered by sensor drift thresholds.
Does the system support GLP-compliant electronic records?
When paired with XenoTouch and validated third-party LIMS integration, it provides full 21 CFR Part 11 audit trails, user access controls, and electronic signature capability.
