Using UV-2600i Plus to Evaluate Ultraviolet- Degraded Plastics Based on the Hazen Color Scale

User Benefits

- The yellowing of plastics due to UV-light degradation can be quantified based on the Hazen color scale. - The spectral assessment feature in LabSolutions UV-Vis Color gives users a simple method for evaluating samples based on the Hazen color scale.

Introduction

Because of their excellent workability and lightweight, plastics are used in many industrial products, such as automobile components and packaging materials. However, aging and exposure to UV light, rain, and heat can degrade plastics, reducing their strength and affecting their appearance. This Application News describes using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer to measure the color of plastics degraded by UV light and evaluate the color changes based on the Hazen color scale. Two highly transparent plastics were used for this analysis: polycarbonate (PC) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The Hazen color scale, also called the APHA scale and the platinumcobalt scale, is used to evaluate materials based on their colors, from colorless or transparent to yellowish.

February 11, 2025 GMT