Photochromic Dye Fatigue Testing with Simulated Daylight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fatigue testing methods for photochromic, fluorescent, or phosphorescent dyes are inadequate as they lead to incorrect conclusions about color fastness due to triplet-triplet excitation and degradation under intense artificial light, and existing methods are time-consuming and inefficient, with incomplete illumination affecting the accuracy of initial responses.
Innovation Solution
A method involving exposure to a predetermined number of cycles of luminous exposure using a polychromatic light beam to simulate natural daylight, combined with a measuring light beam that is monitored by a spectrometer to assess the dye's fatigue, utilizing a device with a spherical optical integrator, beam splitters, and temperature control to ensure accurate and continuous testing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If intense artificial light is used for fatigue testing, then testing time is reduced, but incorrect conclusions about color fastness are obtained due to triplet-triplet excitation and degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spectral parameters of the light source from intense artificial light to simulated natural daylight with a spectrum matching D65 standard illuminant. This parameter change eliminates triplet-triplet excitation while maintaining testing efficiency, resolving the contradiction between testing speed and accuracy.
2Device complexity
If discontinuous testing with short light flashes is used, then equipment complexity is reduced, but illumination does not pass through the entire sample properly, distorting initial responses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous illumination through the entire sample during fatigue testing, replacing discontinuous short flashes. This continuous action ensures proper light penetration throughout the sample thickness, eliminating distortion of initial responses while maintaining manageable equipment complexity.
3Measurement precision
If simulated natural daylight is used, then accurate color response is obtained, but testing becomes time-consuming due to discontinuous operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines simulated natural daylight with continuous illumination operation, eliminating the time loss associated with discontinuous testing. The system maintains accurate color response measurement while operating continuously, resolving the contradiction between precision and time efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for reliable and efficient fatigue testing of photochromic, fluorescent, or phosphorescent dyes by accurately simulating natural daylight and monitoring changes in the dye's characteristics, providing continuous and precise data on color response and fatigue without the limitations of previous methods.
Implementation Method 1
a sample containing photochromic, fluorescent or phosphorescent dye/dyes or a mixture of at least two of them is exposed to a predetermined number of cycles of luminous exposure to an excitation light beam, which evokes a color response of the photochromic, fluorescent or phosphorescent dye/dyes
Implementation Method 2
photochromic, fluorescent or phosphorescent dye/dyes or of a mixture of at least two of them
Implementation Method 3
photochromic, fluorescent or phosphorescent dye/dyes or of a mixture of at least two of them
Implementation Method 4
a measuring light beam is introduced to the sample and is then reflected from it, whereby the change and/or the course of the change in the characteristics of the measuring light beam reflected from the sample is monitored by a spectrometer
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for fatigue testing of photochromic, fluorescent or phosphorescent dye/dyes or of a mixture of at least two of them, in which a sample (3) containing photochromic, fluorescent or phosphorescent dye/dyes or a mixture of at least two of them is exposed to a predetermined number of cycles of luminous exposure to an excitation light beam (81), which evokes a color response of the photochromic, fluorescent or phosphorescent dye/dyes or of the mixture of at least two of them in the sample (3). Before and/or during and/or after each predetermined exposure to the excitation light beam (81), the sample (3) containing the photochromic, fluorescent or phosphorescent dye/dyes or of the mixture of at least two of them is exposed at least once to irradiation by an exposure light beam (71), due to which the dye/dyes is/are subject to fatigue loading. Simultaneously, a measuring light beam (41) is introduced to the sample (3) and is reflected from it, whereby the change and/or the course of the change in the characteristics of the measuring light beam (41) reflected from the sample is monitored by a spectrometer (94). From this change and/or the course of the change it is possible to deduce the course of the color response and/or the change in the color response of the particular photochromic, fluorescent or phosphorescent dye/dyes or of the mixture of at least two of them in the sample (3) to the exposure to an excitation light beam (81) and thus it is possible to deduce the fatigue of this photochromic, fluorescent or phosphorescent dye/dyes or of the mixture of at least two of them. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out this method.