UVEMA

The Finnish Meteorological Institute with partners has launched a research project UVEMA focusing on the Effects of UV radiation on MAterials.

Background

Solar UV radiation has been shown to be one of the outdoor environment components deleterious to a variety of materials. These materials have bond dissociation energies on the wavelength region of UV radiation (280 - 400 nm), leading to a complex set of processes at UV exposure and appearing as photodegradation with the following signs:

o loss of surface gloss;
o discolouring;
o chalking;
o flaking of surface resin;
o pitting;
o microcracking;
o blistering;
o severe loss of resin from outer surface.

In essence, adverse effects of UV radiation considerably limit the lifetime of these materials.

copyright Matti Heikkilä

Framework

The project is a joint effort of the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the Helsinki University of Technology and the Tampere University of Technology, Elastopoli Oy, and the following industrial partners:
o Oy All-Plast Ab;
o Exel Oyj;
o MacGregor (FIN) Oy; and
o Nokian Tyres plc.

The following European observatories participate as collaborators in the project:
o Arctic Research Centre, Finnish Meteorological Institute; Sodankylä, Finland
o Jokioinen Observatory, Finnish meteorological Institute; Jokioinen, Finland
o Meteorogical Observatory Lindenberg, German Weather Service; Lindenberg, Germany
o Institute for Health and Consumer Protection, Joint Research Centre; Ispra, Italy
o Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; Thessaloniki, Greece
o El Arenosillo Sounding Station, National Institute for Aerospace Technology; Huelva, Spain
o Observatorio Atmosphérico de Izaña, Instituto Nacional de Meteorología; Tenerife, Spain

The project is financed by the National Technology Agency (Tekes), the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the industrial partners. The project has been launched on the 1st of May 2005. The project will continue four years.

Contacts

Research professor Jarkko Koskinen, phone: +358-9-1929 4174
Project manager Anu Heikkila, phone: +358-9-1929 4151
email: firstname.lastname(at)fmi.fi