Haze ASTM D1003
Haze and Luminous Transmittance of Transparent Plastics ASTM D1003 (method B)
Understanding Haze and Luminous Transmittance: A Guide to BYK Gardner Spectrophotometer Testing
Transparent materials are a common feature in many industries. However, these materials may have inherent characteristics that could affect their performance. Haze is one of the characteristics that could negatively impact the clarity and visibility of transparent materials. Haze occurs when light scatters as it passes through a transparent material, causing a reduction in clarity and often causing glare. Measuring haze and luminous transmittance can be beneficial in various product development, process development, and end-use performance testing scenarios.
Factors Affecting Haze
Haze can be inherent in the material, caused by the molding process, or a result of surface texture. Environmental factors such as weathering or surface abrasion can also contribute to haze. The haze measurement allows material scientists to quantify the amount of scattering and evaluate the impact of environmental and process factors.
Benefits of Luminous Transmittance
Luminous transmittance measures the amount of light that passes through a sample. It is a critical parameter in assessing the performance of a transparent material. Luminous transmittance values can help manufacturers optimize the production process and ensure that the materials perform to the desired level in the end-use environment.
Test Procedure
The BYK Gardner Spectrophotometer is a highly automated device that offers a quick and straightforward method for measuring haze and luminous transmittance. First, the illuminant and observer angle are specified, followed by the reference color. Next, the test sample is placed in the specimen holder, and the spectrophotometer takes three readings that are averaged to provide a reliable and accurate result.
Specimen Size
The BYK Gardner Spectrophotometer can handle any flat sample that the specimen holder can grasp. However, a typical specimen size for measuring haze and luminous transmittance is a 50 mm (2") or 100 mm (4") disk.
Data
The BYK Gardner Spectrophotometer can provide the following data:
Haze (%): A measure of the percentage of light that scatters as it passes through a material.
Total Luminous Transmittance (%): A measure of the percentage of light that passes through a material.
Diffuse Transmittance (%): A measure of the percentage of light that transmits through a sample in all directions.
Using the BYK Gardner Spectrophotometer to measure haze and luminous transmittance is critical for evaluating transparent materials' performance. These measurements provide a comprehensive analysis of the material's clarity and transparency and help ensure that the product performs to its desired level.