Press release submitted on behalf of IUVA.
IUVA, Chevy Chase, Maryland, sends congratulations to the International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) Task Force on Material Degradation on the publication of their peer-reviewed study, “Toward Standardized UV-C Exposure Methods for Polymeric Materials: Coordinated Multi-Laboratory Evaluation and Material Response.”
This paper, the result of an IUVA working group spanning 17 contributors across industry and academia, addresses the longstanding absence of a reproducible, quantitative method for exposing polymer materials to UV-C light and comparing their degradation responses. The study tested six common polymer formulations across three UV-C sources (222 nm KrCl excimer, 254 nm low-pressure mercury and 280 nm LED) at five independent laboratories, with post-exposure characterization conducted at multiple external testing facilities.
The framework demonstrated good consistency across laboratories, validating the method’s reproducibility. Key findings include significant color change and gloss loss in PVC at all dose levels (consistent with field observations in water treatment systems), while polycarbonate and acrylic formulations showed greater optical and mechanical stability. Mechanical properties (tensile strength and elastic modulus) were largely unaffected across all materials at doses up to 500 J/cm², confirming that UV-C degradation at these levels is primarily a surface phenomenon in bulk polymers at the tested dosage levels.
This dataset represents the most systematic and quantitative published assessment of UV-C effects on polymeric construction materials to date, and provides a practical foundation for future ASTM/ISO standardization efforts. Congratulations again to authors Norman Horn, John D. Paccione, Sophie Poelmans, Robert Karlicek, Leili Abkar, Michael Bean, Holger Claus, Jerry Eng, Gareth John, John Harris, Xin Li, Colin Mikulec, Ryan Olsen, Jennifer Pagán, Sari Samuels, Sepas Setayesh, Peter Teska and Paul A. Uglum.
To read the full paper, visit https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6703/6/2/23.
As a reminder, registration for the IUVA 2026 Americas Conference in Halifax is open! We hope to see you there October 5-7 for an unforgettable event.
About the International Ultraviolet Association
The mission of the International Ultraviolet Association is to advance the science, engineering & application of ultraviolet technologies to enhance public health, the quality of human life & to protect the environment through education, research, collaboration and advocacy.