Accelerate Your Automotive Exterior Durability Testing Using SAE J2527
SAE J2527 is an accelerated test method for xenon arc weathering chambers for exposure of automotive exterior materials. SAE J2527 simulates the harsh environmental conditions automobiles face like sunlight, heat, and moisture.
Replacing the hardware-specific SAE J1960, the SAE J2527 protocol (last updated in 2017) removes apparatus-specific requirements, updates procedures, and corrects errors.
Test Parameters
The key test parameters of SAE J2527 simulate and accelerate the sunlight, heat, and water that automotive exterior materials receive, in order to evaluate their durability.
Test Cycle
SAE J2527 is somewhat unique among weathering test methods in that it specifies both a target radiant dosage (energy) as well as an irradiance level (power). The two can be readily converted.
- Cycle Duration: 180 minutes consisting of:
- Step 1: 60 minutes (Dark), with front and back spray
- Step 2: 40 minutes (Light), no spray (1.32 kJ·m⁻²·nm⁻¹ @ 340 nm)
- Step 3: 20 minutes (Light), with front spray (0.66 kJ/m²/nm @ 340 nm)
- Step 4: 60 minutes (Light), no spray (1.98 kJ/m²/nm @ 340 nm)
Control Panel Target Values
- Irradiance: 0.55 W/m²/nm @ 340 nm. The standard notes that different irradiance levels or wideband TUV control are permitted, but will change the radiant dosage values in the test cycle.
- Black Panel Temperature: 70°C (un-insulated black panel thermometer)
- Chamber Air Temperature:
- Dark cycle: 38°C
- Light cycle: 47°C
- Relative Humidity:
- Dark cycle: 95%
- Light cycle: 50%
You can find in-depth information on how to program the SAE J2527 test cycle into your Q-SUN xenon-arc weathering chamber by logging into your Q-Portal account.
Why Test to SAE J2527
Testing to the SAE J2527 standard is widely used throughout the automotive industry. The test method ensures that exterior materials — such as paints, plastics, and coatings —can withstand harsh environmental conditions over time. This internationally-recognized testing method allows OEMs to meet customer and regulatory expectations by reducing the risk of product failures.
Pros and Cons of SAE J2527
- Realistic test cycles
- SAE J2527 uses enhanced testing parameters, including dark steps & longer water exposure period
- These cycles represented a breakthrough in the testing of coatings as compared to historical 102:18 cycles.
- Performance-based test method
- The test method removed unnecessary hardware restrictions of the time
- Polystyrene verification
- Though no longer required, measurement of Polystryene yellowing was one of the first effective techniques for validating test chamber performance and is still used by many laboratories
- Unrealistic optical filters
- Specifies either Daylight-B/B or Extended UV-Q/B optical filters, neither of which are as good a match to natural sunlight as a Type I Daylight filter like Daylight-Q. In particular, Extended UV-Q/B has far more shortwave UV than sunlight and can cause unrealistic failures
- Back spray
- Intended to produce condensation on specimen surfaces, back spray in fact provides little to no benefit to the test other than excess water usage
- Short spray cycles
- Although an improvement over 18-minute light+spray cycles, the water spray periods in SAE J2527 do not always reproduce water-based failures in coatings like blistering and cracking.
How Q-Lab Can Help
Q-SUN Xenon Arc Test Chambers
Q-Lab's Q-SUN xenon arc test chambers - Xe-2, Xe-3, and Xe-8, fully comply with SAE J2527. Q SUN full-spectrum sunlight xenon arc test chambers are simple, reliable, and easy to use. With multiple sizes and models available, they are the world’s most versatile weathering testers.
Test Services
If a new tester is not part of the budget, we offer contract testing at either of our two accelerated testing laboratories – Florida or Germany. Both labs are ISO 17025 accredited to perform SAE J2527, using the very same Q-SUN test chambers built at our manufacturing plant. In addition to accredited testing, our accelerated laboratories are accredited and qualified to perform a suite of different evaluations, including color change, gloss retention, tensile hardness, and much more.
Q-PANEL Standard Test Substrates
Q PANEL paint test substrates are the world’s most recognizable and widely-used standard test panels. Q Lab manufactures millions of panels each year for a variety of industries, most available immediately from stock.
More SAE J2527 Resources
Standards Tool
Review setup and performance information on key international and OEM test standards from ASTM, ISO, SAE, JIS, GB, and more.
Document Library
Browse Q-Lab’s extensive library of weathering testing literature and technical content.
Contact Q-Lab
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