Spectrometer sets standard for polymer degradation

Labsphere is working with researchers at the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop the NIST Gloss Meter Sphere Spectrometer.

Labsphere is working with researchers at the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop the NIST Gloss Meter Sphere Spectrometer.

This system will measure the colour and gloss of polymeric building materials, such as protective coatings.

Researchers in the Polymetric Group at NIST are investigating degradation mechanisms, improving characterisation methods, and developing mathematical models of the degradation processes of polymetric building materials.

To help in understanding the mechanisms of degradation and provide data for models, materials are characterised using many techniques to capture information regarding both chemical and physical degradation including gloss measurements.

Gloss is the property of a surface which, because of directional reflectance, is responsible for the degree to which reflected highlights of objects may be seen as superimposed on the surface.

A gloss meter measures gloss by comparing the specular reflectance of a sample to that of a perfect specular reflector.

In essence, it measures how shiny a surface is.

The NIST Gloss Meter will be used to measure test samples before and after experiencing accelerated UV exposure on the NIST SPHERE (simulated photodegradation by high energy radiant exposure).

The research will help develop our understanding of the environmental parameters that cause degradation and link material properties with service life.

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