1、Designation: F 1946 04Standard Practice forAccelerated Testing of the Lightfastness of Ink Jet PrintsExposed to Indoor Fluorescent Lighting andWindowFiltered Daylight1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1946; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year ofori
2、ginal adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. Asuperscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1. Scope1.1 This practice covers an accelerated procedure intendedto scre
3、en ink jet prints for lightfastness in office environmentswhere overhead fluorescent light and window-filtered daylightis used for illumination.1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is theresponsibility of the user of this standa
4、rd to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precau-tionary statements are given in Section 8.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D 1729 Practice for Visual Appraisal of Color and ColorDifferences of
5、 Diffusely Illuminated Opaque MaterialsD 2244 Practice for Calculation of Color Tolerances andColor Differences from Instrumentally Measured ColorCoordinatesD 3424 Test Methods for Evaluating the Relative Lightfast-ness and Weatherability of Printed MatterD 4674 Practice for Accelerated Testing for
6、Color Stabilityof Plastics Exposed to Indoor Office EnvironmentsG 113 Terminology Relating to Natural and ArtificialWeathering Tests of Nonmetallic Materials2.2 ANSI Standard:ANSI/NAPM IT9.9-1996 Stability of Color PhotographicImagesMethods of Measuring33. Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 ink jet me
7、diarecording elements used by ink jetprinters to receive inks. The substrate may be paper, plastic,canvas, fabric, or other ink receptive material. The substratemay, or may not be, coated with one or more ink receptivelayers.3.2 The definitions given in Terminology G 113 are appli-cable to this prac
8、tice.4. Summary of Practice4.1 Printed ink jet media are exposed to radiant energy froman array of 11 very high output (VHO) cool, white fluorescentlamps and, simultaneously, to intermittent energy from twosoda-lime glass-filtered fluorescent UV lamps. The extent ofUV radiant exposure (nominal UV ac
9、tinic exposure or UVAE)from both sources is determined separately as the product ofUV irradiance at the start of the test and exposure time, inWatt-hours/m2(W-h/m2).NOTE 1The relative spectral power distribution for cool white fluo-rescent lamps may be found in ANSI/NAPM IT9.9-1996, Table 5.4.1.1 Th
10、e contribution of the sunlamp actinic exposure tothe total UV actinic exposure is maintained constant byadjusting the on/off cycle time of the sun lamps.4.1.2 The average nominal sunlamp UV actinic exposure isset at 12 % of the value of for the VHO lamps.NOTE 2Most UV exposure results from fluoresce
11、nt lighting, althoughsome is due to sunlight. The 12 % is an estimate of a representative officeenvironment.4.2 The duration of the exposure may vary widely depend-ing on the lightfastness of the ink/media.4.3 During the course of the exposure, the color changes inthe printed samples are periodicall
12、y evaluated either visually orinstrumentally. Results are compared to an exposed control, anunexposed file specimen, or the same specimen prior toexposure. The color change shall be measured as percentretained density and color difference, DE*.1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committ
13、ee F05 on BusinessImaging Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F05.07 on Ink JetImaging Products.Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2004. Published March 2004. Originallyapproved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as F 194698.2For referenced ASTM standards, visit the
14、ASTM website, www.astm.org, orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org. For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3American National Standards Institute, 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York,NY 10036.1Copyright ASTM In
15、ternational, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.4.4 The exposure may be continued for a specific durationof time, or until a predetermined color change has beenachieved.5. Significance and Use5.1 Lightfastness of printed ink jet media for specifiedper
16、iods of time is pertinent to the end use of these materials.Since the ability of an ink jet print to withstand color changesis a function of the spectral power distribution of the lightsource to which it is exposed, it is important that the effect ofaccelerated testing be assessed under the conditio
17、ns appropri-ate to the end use application. While ink jet prints may behandled and displayed under a variety of conditions, thispractice is intended to produce the color changes that mayoccur in ink jet prints upon exposure to irradiation from officelighting where overhead fluorescent light and wind
18、ow-filtereddaylight is used for illumination by simulating these condi-tions.5.2 The accelerated procedure covered in this practice isintended to provide a means for the rapid evaluation of theeffect of light under laboratory conditions. Test results areuseful for specification acceptance between pr
19、oducer and user,for quality control, and for research and product development.5.3 Color changes may not be a linear function of durationof exposure. The preferred method of determining the effect oflight is to expose the prints for a number of intervals and toassess the exposure time required to obt
20、ain a specific colorchange.6. Interferences6.1 It is recognized that the rate of photo degradation of inkjet prints will vary significantly due to factors such as initialcolor density, the area printed (solid versus half-tone), thesubstrate, the ink type (dye versus pigment inks), and thecoating typ
21、e and thickness. Consequently, test results must bedetermined individually for each printed recording element.6.2 Variations in exposure time, temperature, and humiditymay also affect results.7. Apparatus7.1 The apparatus shall conform to the device described inPractice D 4674, Annex A1.8. Safety Pr
22、ecautions8.1 Follow the safety instructions described in PracticeD 4674, Section 7.9. Test Specimen9.1 The substrate, method of printing, ink, ink laydown, andhandling of printed specimens shall be consistent with theanticipated end use of the specimens.9.2 The test image may be generated with perso
23、nal com-puter word processing, drawing/graphics, or page layout soft-ware, saved as a print file for each printer/method of printing(contributing its unique ink and ink/receiver interactions thatmay impact on the image light stability), trial-printed, andevaluated for appropriate ink laydown (purity
24、 and amount) andease of printing and testing. Each print file should have itsfilename, type, and version identified in the image area and aplace for experimental notes (for example, time, printer,environmental conditions, operator). The printer settings and atrial print of each print file version sh
25、ould be archived.9.3 The recommended test image shall consist of a stan-dardized arrangement of color patches printed using print filescontaining the appropriate printer setup specific for eachapplication. This test image shall contain color patches atmaximum print density (100 % fill) for each of t
26、he primarycolors (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black), secondary colors(red, green, blue), and composite black (cyan plus magentaplus yellow). In addition, since lightfastness may vary as afunction of print density, low optical density patches arerecommended to test the lightfastness of binary images
27、ofdiscrete ink spots. A step wedge containing patches with arange of optical densities (for example 25 %, 50 %, 75 %, and100 % fill) may be useful for this test.9.4 For visual examination, the specimen size as indicatedin Practice D 1729 is a minimum of 312 by 612 in. (90 by165 mm). For instrumental
28、 evaluation, the specimen must belarge enough to cover the specimen port; a minimum size of1.25 in.3 1.25 in. (35 mm 3 35 mm) is satisfactory for manyinstruments.9.5 For comparison of the exposed specimens with unex-posed file specimens, prepare or measure the latter in thefollowing manner:9.5.1 For
29、 visually evaluated tests, set aside a replicate printor cut off a segment of suitable size; store in a dark, dry place.9.5.2 For instrumentally evaluated tests, make color mea-surements on the relevant specimen area(s) prior to exposure.NOTE 3The unexposed sample should not be a masked specimen.Eve
30、n though shielded from radiation, some materials may undergo colorchanges, due to the heat or moisture present during the test.9.6 Test prints on opaque substrates shall be backed with anon-reactive and non-yellowing white material, for example,100 % cotton cellulose mount board or ceramic-coated st
31、eelplate. Transparencies shall be backed with a black tintedpolyester backing, for example. Test samples on translucentsubstrates shall be tested in accordance with their intended use.Dummy specimens identical to the test samples should occupyvacant test positions in the light stability apparatus. P
32、otentialvariables such as temperature, relative humidity, and theamount of reflected light must be monitored and controlled toguard against sample induced changes.10. Preparation of Apparatus10.1 The apparatus shall be prepared in accordance withPractice D 4674, Section 9.2 for Method I.11. Conditio
33、ning11.1 It is recommended that samples be conditioned at 25Cand 45 % RH for at least 24 h prior to testing. Specimensshould be visually inspected for color uniformity and surfaceirregularities, which could adversely affect color measurement.11.2 Pre-age the lamps by leaving them on for a minimumof
34、48 h prior to initial test. Replace the cool white lamps ifUVOFFis greater than or equal to one, as specified in PracticeD 4674, Section 9.2.6.1.F194604212. Procedure12.1 The test shall be performed in accordance with PracticeD 4674, Sections 9.2, 10 and 11.13. Evaluation13.1 Evaluate the exposed sp
35、ecimens for changes in coloreither visually or instrumentally in accordance with PracticeD 1729 and Test Methods D 3424, Section 11, respectively. Forinstrumental evaluations, using the CIE 1976 L*a*b* equationdescribed in Practice D 2244, calculate DL*, Da*, Db*, andDE*abbetween each exposed specim
36、en and its unexposedcounterpart.13.2 Evaluate the exposed specimens for changes in opticaldensity measured per ANSI/NAPM IT9.91996, paragraphs3.3 through 3.6. Percent retained density shall be calculated asfollows:% Retained Optical Density 5Optical Density After ExposureOptical Density Before Expos
37、ure3 10014. Report14.1 The report shall include the following:14.1.1 Specimen identification, including the method ofprinting, print area (% fill), and substrate.14.1.2 Exposure apparatus type, temperature, and RH.14.1.3 Initial and final CW UV irradiance, W/m2.14.1.4 Initial and final FS UV irradia
38、nce, W/m2.14.1.5 Total exposure time, h.14.1.6 Total FS on time, h14.1.7 FS off-time interval.14.1.8 Procedure for evaluating color changes (either visualor instrumental) and the test results.14.1.8.1 Results from the visual examination of colorchange per Practice D 1729.14.1.8.2 Percent retained op
39、tical density.NOTE 4If instrumental color measurements are used, the type ofequipment, the method, and the color-difference equation used must bestated.ASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item mentionedin this standard. Us
40、ers of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the riskof infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed ever
41、y five years andif not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standardsand should be addressed to ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of theresponsible techni
42、cal committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you shouldmake your views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, at the address shown below.This standard is copyrighted by ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959,United States. Individual reprints (single or multiple copies) of this standard may be obtained by contacting ASTM at the aboveaddress or at 610-832-9585 (phone), 610-832-9555 (fax), or serviceastm.org (e-mail); or through the ASTM website(www.astm.org).F1946043
