HunterLab Agera Yellowness Index Instrument

Overview

The HunterLab Agera Yellowness Index Instrument is a high-precision benchtop color measurement system engineered for quantitative assessment of yellowness in translucent and opaque materials across industrial quality control and R&D environments. Operating on the CIE Yellowness Index (YI) calculation—specifically ASTM E313 and ISO 11507—Agera utilizes a 0/45° optical geometry with an integrating sphere to ensure uniform illumination and geometrically consistent reflectance capture. Its full-spectrum balanced LED array delivers stable, repeatable spectral power distribution across 400–700 nm, eliminating the intensity drift and warm-up variability associated with xenon or tungsten sources. This photometric stability directly supports the instrument’s documented repeatability of ΔYI ≤ 0.03, enabling reliable detection of subtle yellowing trends in polymers, resins, coatings, and food-grade packaging over time.

Key Features

• 0/45° integrating sphere optical design compliant with CIE 15:2018 and ASTM E1164 for diffuse reflectance measurement
• Full-spectrum balanced LED illumination ensuring long-term photometric stability and reduced thermal load on samples
• Integrated 5-megapixel camera with calibrated 45° coaxial illumination for spatial validation of measurement area and defect documentation
• Dual-mode UV filtration: user-selectable UV-included and UV-excluded measurements with NIST-traceable UV calibration certificates
• Simultaneous YI, CIE L*a*b*, ΔE, whiteness, and 60° gloss (per ASTM D523 and ISO 2813) in a single measurement cycle
• Large high-resolution capacitive touchscreen interface with intuitive workflow navigation and on-device data review
• Remote service readiness: secure, opt-in remote access enables HunterLab technical support to perform diagnostics, firmware updates, and live operational guidance

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

Agera accommodates a broad range of sample types—including rigid plastics, flexible films, liquid suspensions, powders, textiles, and painted panels—via three interchangeable apertures (15.89 mm, 25.4 mm, and 50.8 mm). The 0/45° geometry minimizes directional bias from surface texture, making it suitable for textured or matte finishes where 45°/0° or d/8° geometries may yield inconsistent results. All optical calibrations are traceable to NIST standards, and instrument performance verification follows ASTM E2539 and ISO 13655. For regulated industries, Agera supports audit-ready operation under GLP and GMP frameworks, including optional electronic signature and 21 CFR Part 11-compliant software modules when used with Vision software.

Software & Data Management

The instrument operates natively via its embedded Linux-based firmware and touchscreen UI, supporting real-time pass/fail evaluation against user-defined tolerances. For advanced analysis, HunterLab Vision software (Windows-compatible) provides full spectral data export (CSV, XML, .qtx), statistical process control (SPC) charting, multi-instrument fleet management, and automated report generation. All measurement metadata—including operator ID, timestamp, aperture selection, UV mode, gloss reading, and image thumbnail—is embedded in each dataset. USB mass storage mode allows direct export of spectra, images, and reports without software installation. Firmware updates and configuration backups are managed locally or remotely via encrypted HTTPS session.

Applications

Agera serves as a primary metrology tool in sectors where yellowing correlates with degradation, formulation inconsistency, or processing deviation. In polymer manufacturing, it quantifies thermal-oxidative aging in polypropylene and polycarbonate. In coatings and pigments, it validates batch-to-batch chromatic consistency and monitors UV stabilizer efficacy. Food packaging labs use it to assess yellowing in PET trays and LDPE films exposed to accelerated aging or sterilization cycles. Pharmaceutical excipient suppliers apply it to monitor yellowness shifts in lactose or microcrystalline cellulose during storage. Additionally, its dual gloss + color capability streamlines QC workflows in coil-coated metal production (e.g.,彩涂板), eliminating the need for separate glossmeter validation.

FAQ

What standards does the Agera comply with for yellowness index calculation?
ASTM E313 (for YI E313), ASTM D1925 (for YI D1925), ISO 11507, and ISO 22195 — all selectable within the instrument interface.
Can the Agera measure fluorescent samples accurately?
Yes — the switchable UV filter and factory-calibrated UV source enable both UV-included (for fluorescent whitening agent response) and UV-excluded (for base-color assessment) modes, with traceable calibration per ISO 13655 Annex D.
Is the 60° gloss measurement certified to international standards?
Yes — the integrated gloss sensor meets the angular tolerance, beam geometry, and calibration requirements of ASTM D523 and ISO 2813, and includes a certified reference tile with NIST-traceable gloss value.
How is data integrity maintained during remote support sessions?
Remote access is initiated only upon explicit user authorization via PIN-protected session start; no data is transmitted without consent, and all connections terminate automatically after session end with full local logging.
Does Agera support IQ/OQ/PQ documentation for regulated environments?
Yes — HunterLab provides validated installation qualification (IQ), operational qualification (OQ), and performance qualification (PQ) protocols aligned with ASTM E2539 and ISO/IEC 17025, including test scripts, acceptance criteria, and electronic record templates.