CHICAGO - Atlas Material Testing Technology LLC, in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Institute of Laser Technology (ILOT), received the R & D 100 award for its work in developing the Ultra-Accelerated Weathering System (UAWS).

 

Advancing beyond Atlas' moderately accelerated EMMA® technology, the UAWS tracks the sun while concentrating reflected sunlight on test specimens mounted in a target area. However, the new patented mirror system has very high reflectance in the UV and near-visible wavelength ranges, while attenuating reflectance in the longer wavelength-visible and IR portions of the solar spectrum.

 

This technology allows for very high concentrations of UV energy without excessive heating of test samples. Used in various applications such as building, solar and automotive materials, the UAWS achieves results in a fraction of the time needed by other accelerated devices.

 

The R & D 100 awards showcase innovations from around the world. The UAWS was selected by an independent panel of judges and editors of R & D Magazine.