Test Your Product in Extreme Conditions – Accelerated Aging

Our accredited testing laboratory for surface protection conducts precise and reliable tests to evaluate the effects of temperature, humidity, and corrosive factors on various materials. Our calibrated climate chambers allow us to simulate extreme conditions, ensuring proper performance even under high and prolonged loads.

Environmental testing

The temperature in our climate chambers can be controlled from -70 °C to 150 °C. Relative humidity can also be regulated within a certain range. The tests we perform can be conducted under constant or cyclic conditions. Some chambers allow specimens to remain connected to an electrical network during exposure.

Our largest climate chamber has a volume of 2300 litres, enabling testing of larger products. The usable dimensions of this chamber are 98 x 113 x 208 cm (width x height x depth).

Tests can be conducted on metals, polymers, electrical products and equipment.

We perform the following tests:

• Cold and humid heat test – PV 1200,
• Dry heat test (30 °C to 175 °C) – IEC 60068-2-2,
• Cold test (-5 °C to -65 °C) – IEC 60068-2-1,
• Cyclic or constant temperature and relative humidity test,
• Damp cyclic heat test – IEC 60068-2-30.

^{Environmental Condition Simulation in a Climate Test Chamber.}

Heat Aging

Heat aging involves exposing a product to dry heat in an drying oven, with temperatures adjustable up to 300 °C.

This test is most commonly performed on plastic products, where we assess visual changes such as:

• Color change
• Yellowing
• Fading
• Peeling
• Formation of cracks

Additionally, we can measure the product’s dimensions before and after heat aging using a coordinate measuring machine or a 3D scanner.

^{Color Comparison Before and After Climate Exposure, Using a Colorimeter.}

Low Temperature Behaviour

Products are placed in a climate chamber at sub-zero temperatures for cold exposure testing. We can perform accredited test method within a range of -5 °C to -65 °C. After exposure, we assess the product for any visual changes.

Exposure in Specialized Chambers

In dedicated chambers, we perform:

• Thermal shock test (-60 °C to 200 °C),
• Test in condensation-water atmosphere – ISO 6270-2 or BMW AA-0213,
• Test in condensation-water atmosphere in presence of sulphur dioxide (SO₂) – Kesternich test – ISO 22479.

Thermal shock chamber consists of two separate compartments, one for low and one for high temperatures. A lift transfers the specimen between these levels in approximately three seconds. This cyclic test is repeated multiple times to assess material resistance to rapid temperature changes, such as expansion, cracking, and peeling.

When testing coated test specimens in condensation-water test atmospheres, samples are exposed to 40 °C and 100 % relative humidity. There are three condensation test methods: CH, AHT and AT. The CH method involves constant condensation, while AHT and AT methods feature cyclic variations in humidity and temperature.

^{Shock Chamber with Two Independent Compartments}

The corrosion test with SO₂ in a humid atmosphere is designed for metals and alloys, simulating the effects of acid rain on metal products.

During and after exposure, we evaluate surface changes in the tested products.
The test duration is determined in advance with the client, based on technical specifications, product characteristics, and client requirements.

For Additional Questions and Information, Contact Us:
Marjetka Lotrič, Head of Sales – Testing Department
E: marjetka.lotric@lotric.si
M: +386 (0)31 640 252