Method and apparatus for the weatherability testing of a material
First Claim
1. A method for weatherability testing of at least one material sample, comprising the following steps:
- a) placing a material sample in a testing chamber;
b) generating a plasma in a plasma generator and releasing a plasma jet into said testing chamber, wherein the plasma jet is not directed at the material sample;
c) forming a defined testing atmosphere in said testing chamber by means of said plasma jet, for said testing atmosphere to affect said material sample;
d) withdrawing said testing atmosphere from said testing chamber; and
,e) supplying at least a portion of said testing atmosphere, withdrawn from said testing chamber, after filtering and/or conditioning, to said plasma generator as a process gas.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and an apparatus (1) for weatherability testing of a material sample (3) are disclosed. The material sample (3) is exposed to a testing atmosphere (12) in a testing chamber (2). The testing atmosphere (12) is formed by a plasma (10). Testing atmosphere (12) is withdrawn from the testing chamber (2) and resupplied to the plasma generation as a process gas (5G), after filtering and/or conditioning. At least one further substance (8S) may be added to a process gas (5G) for plasma generation, in order to obtain a desired chemical composition of the testing atmosphere (12). Parameters of the testing atmosphere (12) like temperature and chemical composition may be controlled. The material sample (3) may furthermore be exposed to UV light (25), which preferably is generated by an electric arc.
72 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for weatherability testing of at least one material sample, comprising the following steps:
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a) placing a material sample in a testing chamber; b) generating a plasma in a plasma generator and releasing a plasma jet into said testing chamber, wherein the plasma jet is not directed at the material sample; c) forming a defined testing atmosphere in said testing chamber by means of said plasma jet, for said testing atmosphere to affect said material sample; d) withdrawing said testing atmosphere from said testing chamber; and
,e) supplying at least a portion of said testing atmosphere, withdrawn from said testing chamber, after filtering and/or conditioning, to said plasma generator as a process gas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for the weatherability testing of at least one material sample, comprising:
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a testing chamber for holding a material sample, a plasma generator with a feed system for at least one process gas for the generation of a plasma and an outlet for a plasma jet into said testing chamber for the formation of a defined testing atmosphere, wherein the plasma jet is not directed at the material sample; and
,a recycling system wherein said testing atmosphere is withdrawn from said test chamber, conditioned, and resupplied as a process gas to said plasma generator. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus for the weatherability testing of at least one material sample, comprising:
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a testing chamber for holding the at least one material sample; a plasma generator including an outlet at least partially disposed within the testing chamber; at least one process gas supplied to the plasma generator; a voltage source arranged to convert the at least one supplied process gas into a plasma to be introduced into the testing chamber via the outlet and form a defined testing atmosphere in the testing chamber, wherein the plasma is not directed at the material sample;
;a first substance suitable to be mixed with the plasma in the plasma generator; a conditioner arranged to remove a second substance from the defined testing atmosphere; and
,a pressure generator arranged to pressurize the defined testing atmosphere, wherein; once the testing chamber is filled with the defined testing atmosphere, the defined testing atmosphere flows from the testing chamber to the conditioner, to the pressure generator and to the testing chamber again.
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Specification