JP2001194289A - Ozone exposure test method and ozone exposure test apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ozone exposure test method high in reproducibility and reliability with respect to a water or moisture absorbable material to be tested. SOLUTION: In an ozone exposure test method and an ozone exposure test apparatus, the humidity in a test tank during the ozone exposure test of a material to be measured is adjusted to a range of ±2%RH with respect to predetermined humidity to perform an ozone exposure test.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ozone exposure test method, and particularly to a medium such as paper or sheet by ink jet, printing, sublimation transfer, thermal transfer, electrophotography, silver halide photography, self-color recording, and the like. The test method of the image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for image fastness of recorded matters by printing, ink jet, silver halide photography and the like. As described in JP-A-63-252780, the ozone exposure test is particularly effective as a method for examining the occurrence of indoor fading.

[0003] Conventionally, an ozone exposure apparatus has been proposed, but it is an apparatus without a mechanism for controlling the temperature and humidity of the test tank or an apparatus which controls only the temperature. Was not described. Therefore, there was a problem that the results of the ozone exposure test differed depending on the conditions in the ozone exposure test of the test sample having water absorbency or hygroscopicity.

The Society of Rubber Industry, Japan, Vol. 62, No. 7, 1989
Pages 423 to 437 describe ozone tests and ozone testers. Among them, a precise method for measuring the ozone concentration is described. Suga Technical News No. 161 (edited by Suga Test Machine Co., Ltd., December 25, 1998)
On page 8 of (Issue issued on the day), it is stated that in the case of the ozone test, it is decided to replace 3/4 (941) of the test tank inner volume every minute. However, neither describes the humidity control in the test tank during the ozone exposure test or the range thereof.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ozone exposure test method with improved reproducibility and reliability.

The inventor of the present invention has found out in the ozone exposure test of the sample under test that there is a correlation between the humidity inside the test tank in which the sample under test is exposed to ozone and the deterioration due to the ozone exposure.

Specifically, in a conventional ozone exposure tester, a gas adjusted to a certain temperature, humidity and ozone concentration is circulated in a test tank when an ozone exposure test is performed. However, when the exposure test is performed continuously, the measurement results may not be consistent if the first and second times or the third time are repeated. It has been found that the reproducibility can be improved even if the ozone exposure test is continuously performed by adjusting the humidity in the test tank when the ozone exposure test is performed within a certain range.

[0008]

The above objects are achieved by the present invention described below. That is, the present invention relates to an ozone exposure test method, in which the humidity in the test tank during the ozone exposure test of the sample to be measured is ± 2% R with respect to a predetermined humidity.
This is an ozone exposure test method characterized in that an ozone exposure test is performed while adjusting within the range of H.

Further, the present invention provides a method for controlling the humidity fluctuation in a test layer during an ozone exposure test by ± 2% RH with respect to a predetermined humidity.
It is an ozone exposure apparatus characterized by being within the range of.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS By using the ozone exposure test method of the present invention, an ozone exposure test can be performed with better reproducibility even if the ozone exposure test is repeatedly performed.

Hereinafter, the ozone exposure test method of the present invention will be described in detail.

The ozone exposure test method of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a general ozone tester. The test tank 1 incorporates a circulation system. Test tank 1
The air containing ozone (hereinafter referred to as “air”) that has flowed out is taken into the blower 2 via a filter (not shown). The air discharged from the blower 2 is cooled and dehumidified by the dehumidifier 3 and then humidified and humidified and heated by the heater 4 to be adjusted to a predetermined temperature and humidity. The air whose temperature and humidity have been adjusted is subjected to measurement and adjustment of the ozone concentration by the ozone concentration controller 5,
It is sent to the test tank 1.

In the present invention, the humidity fluctuation inside the test tank during the ozone exposure test is ± 2% with respect to the center value.
It is preferably within the range of RH. Within this range, it is possible to perform an ozone exposure test with good reproducibility even on recording paper and images having large moisture absorption and water absorption such as ink jet and printing paper.

A more preferable range is within a range of ± 1% RH with respect to the center value. Within this range, deformation and curling of the test sample due to moisture absorption during the ozone exposure test can be prevented. Can be. Here, the fluctuation range of the humidity of the test tank 1 means a fluctuation after the temperature and the humidity reach the set values when performing the ozone exposure test.

Further, when the ozone exposure test is performed in the present invention, the humidity in the test tank 1 is 30% RH to 70% RH.
It is preferable to carry out within the range. When the humidity is within the above range, it is possible to prevent bleeding of a printed image and to prevent unevenness due to a change due to ozone exposure.

Here, the bleeding means that the printed image changes to a white background from the printing portion. Further, the unevenness in the ozone exposure test means that when an image printed on a certain area with a solid color is exposed to ozone, the fading or discoloration proceeds differently and does not change uniformly.

More preferably, the humidity of the test tank 1 is 40.
６０60% RH. If the humidity is within the above range, the fluctuation of the ozone concentration during the test can be reduced.

In the present invention, the temperature in the test tank 1 during the ozone exposure test is preferably 20 ° C. to 60 ° C. If the temperature is within the above range, discoloration or discoloration due to ozone exposure can be generated without increasing the ozone exposure time. A more preferable range is 20 ° C. to 50 ° C., and if it is within this range, deformation such as curling and twisting of the test sample can be prevented.

Preferred embodiments of the ozone exposure test apparatus suitable for the ozone exposure test method of the present invention are described below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an ozone test apparatus according to the present invention. The air circulating from the test tank 1 is sent to the dehumidifier 3, the heating, and the humidifier 4 in order through the blower 2.

Here, one or both of the dehumidifier 3 and the humidifier 4 are used in combination. For example, when a plurality of dehumidifiers 3 are used, the temperature and the humidity are brought close to the set values to some extent by the dehumidifier 3 that passes first, and the second and subsequent dehumidifiers 3 precisely adjust the temperature and humidity to very close to the set values.

The same applies when a plurality of heating and humidifiers 4 are used. The temperature and humidity are adjusted to near the set values by the first heating and humidifier 4, and the second and subsequent units are adjusted to very close to the set values, and the fluctuation range of the temperature and humidity is reduced.

The air whose temperature and humidity have been precisely adjusted is adjusted in the ozone concentration by an ozone concentration controller 5 and the test tank 1 is adjusted.
Return to

In the ozone test apparatus of the present invention, a filter and a mechanism for adjusting the flow rate may be provided as necessary in all embodiments. Further, the ozone concentration measuring device 11 and the ozone generator 12 can be provided separately from the circulation system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the present invention. In another embodiment shown in FIG. 2, similar to the embodiment of FIG.
The air circulating from the test tank 1 returns to the test tank 1 via the blower 2, dehumidifier 3, heating, humidifier 4, and ozone concentration controller 5. The dehumidifier 3 and the humidifier 4 are alternately used.

The air from the blower 2 is sent to the first dehumidifier 3, and then the temperature and humidity are adjusted and then sent to the first heating and humidifier 4. This first dehumidifier 3 and heating,
The humidifier 4 adjusts the temperature and the humidity near the set values. Next, the temperature and humidity are adjusted by the second dehumidifier 3 and the humidifier / humidifier 4 to adjust the temperature to a value very close to the set value, and the fluctuation range of the temperature and humidity is reduced.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing still another embodiment of the present invention. The air circulating from the test tank 1 is sent to the cooler 23 through the blower 2. In the cooler 23, the air from the test tank 1 is lowered to a predetermined temperature. Thereafter, the air is sent to the humidifier 21. In the humidifier 21, the air is humidified with warm water, hot water, steam, or the like to a saturated steam amount.

After that, the temperature is raised to a predetermined temperature and humidity by the heater 22 and then returned to the test tank 1 via the ozone concentration controller 6. In this embodiment, the air is cooled and humidified to produce air having a saturated steam amount lower than the set temperature, and then heated to adjust the temperature and humidity to the set values. The cooling temperature is a temperature at which the amount of steam required in the test tank 1 becomes the amount of saturated steam.

In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, it is preferable that during the ozone exposure test, the switching valve 32 to the discharge path to the outside air is closed so that replacement with the outside air is not performed. By not performing the replacement with the outside air, the temperature and the humidity of the test tank 1 are hardly affected by the temperature and the humidity of the outside air.

[0030]

EXAMPLE 1 An ozone test apparatus (manufactured by Suga Test Instruments Co., Ltd.) having the form shown in FIG. 1 was used. The test sample was put in an ozone test apparatus, and the test was performed under the following conditions.

Test tank temperature 35 ° C. Test tank humidity 55% RH Test tank humidity fluctuation range ± 2% RH Ozone concentration 3 ppm Exposure test time 120 minutes Samples to be tested were obtained as follows. Commercially available electrophotographic paper (EN-500, manufactured by Canon Inc.) was coated with silica (Sylysia 7).
70, manufactured by Fuji Silysia Chemical Ltd.) and polyvinyl alcohol
(NH-18, manufactured by Nippon Synthetic Chemical Co., Ltd.) was applied to paper coated at a dry solid content of 3: 1 at a dry solid content of 20 g / m ² with an inkjet printer (BJC-430,
A solid pattern of cyan having a duty of 100% and a size of 20 × 20 mm was printed by Canon Inc.).

The optical density before and after the ozone exposure was measured using a densitometer (31).
0TR, manufactured by X-lite) and the residual ratio was calculated by the following equation.

Residual rate = optical density after exposure to ozone / optical density before exposure to ozone * 100 The ozone exposure test was performed five times continuously by the same operation. The results are shown in Table 1. Reproducibility was good.

Example 2 An ozone test apparatus (manufactured by Suga Test Instruments Co., Ltd.) having the form shown in FIG. 2 was used. The test sample was put in an ozone test apparatus, and the test was performed under the following conditions.

Test chamber temperature: 24 ° C. Test chamber humidity: 60% RH Fluctuation range of test chamber humidity: ± 2% RH Ozone concentration: 3 ppm Exposure test time: 120 minutes The test sample was put in the same manner as in Example 1 and exposed to ozone. The test was performed. Reproducibility was good. Table 1 shows the results.

Example 3 An ozone test apparatus (manufactured by Suga Test Instruments Co., Ltd.) having the form shown in FIG. 3 was used. The test sample was put in an ozone test apparatus, and the test was performed under the following conditions.

Test chamber temperature: 30 ° C. Test chamber humidity: 45% RH Variation range of test chamber humidity: ± 2% RH Ozone concentration: 3 ppm Exposure test time: 120 minutes The test sample was put in the same manner as in Example 1 and exposed to ozone. The test was performed. Reproducibility was good. Table 1 shows the results.

[0038]

[Table 1]

[0039]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. 1.
The reproducibility of the ozone exposure test is improved by controlling the fluctuation of the humidity in the test tank during the ozone exposure test within a predetermined range. 2. Stable ozone discoloration and discoloration can be generated by controlling the fluctuations in temperature and humidity in the test tank during the ozone exposure test within a predetermined range.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an ozone test method and a test apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an ozone test method and a test apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an ozone test method and a test apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a general ozone test method and a test apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Test tank 2 Blower 3 Dehumidifier 4 Heating and humidifier 5 Ozone concentration controller 6 Circulating air flow 11 Ozone concentration measuring device 12 Ozone generator 21 Humidifier 22 Heater 23 Cooler 31 Switching valve 32 Filter

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An ozone exposure test method, wherein the humidity in a test tank is adjusted within a range of ± 2% RH with respect to a predetermined humidity during an ozone exposure test of a sample to be measured. A test method for ozone exposure. 2. The ozone exposure test method according to claim 1, wherein the humidity in the test tank for performing the ozone exposure test is 30% RH to 70% RH. 3. The ozone exposure test method according to claim 1, wherein the temperature in the test tank for performing the ozone exposure test is 20 ° C. to 60 ° C. 4. The ozone exposure test method according to claim 1, wherein during the ozone exposure test, the air in the test tank is circulated through the ozone concentration adjusting means without being replaced with outside air. 5. The ozone exposure test method according to claim 4, further comprising a step of adjusting the humidity of the air while circulating the air in the test tank. 6. The ozone exposure test method according to claim 4, further comprising a step of adjusting the temperature of the air while circulating the air in the test tank. 7. A test tank for performing an ozone exposure test, means for adjusting the ozone concentration in the test tank, and means for measuring the ozone concentration in the test tank, wherein the ozone exposure test is performed during the ozone exposure test. An ozone exposure apparatus, wherein the humidity fluctuation in the test tank is set within a range of ± 2% RH with respect to a predetermined humidity. 8. The ozone exposure apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the humidity in the test tank during the ozone exposure test is 30 to 70% RH. 9. The ozone exposure apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the temperature in the test tank during the ozone exposure test is 20 ° C. to 60 ° C. 10. The ozone exposure test apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means for circulating the air in the test tank without replacing it with outside air during the ozone exposure test. 11. The ozone exposure test apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising means for adjusting humidity of the air while circulating the air in the test tank. 12. The ozone exposure test apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising means for adjusting a temperature of the air while circulating the air in the test tank.