NIST has developed an ultraviolet weathering device SPHERE (Simulated Photodegradation via High Energy Radiant Emission) based on integrating sphere technology that is used to accelerate the degradation of polymeric materials. SphereOptics is a manufacturer of integrating spheres and has experience in developing high radiance output uniform sources based on sphere technology. Given its manufacturing background and technical expertise, SphereOptics is perfectly positioned to commercialize the SPHERE technology from NIST and target the following goals: 1. Cost and size reduction to make this device simpler to install. 2. Maintain the functionality and precision and accuracy of measurements of research system and extend it to a commercial system. 3. Expand testing option beyond polymeric materials and offering a research tool for biological, medical, and agricultural applications. COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: A commercial version of the original NIST SPHERE technology can be used for: 1. UV weathering studies on a variety of polymeric samples such as coatings, sealants, composites, roofing and siding components, paints. 2. Extend UV weathering applications beyond polymeric materials and expand to any photogenic application including agriculture (e.g., the effect of ultraviolet radiation on the growth of fungi), biological (e.g., photosynthesis), or medical (e.g., sunscreen efficiency, skin cancer). 3. Extend the concept of delivering equal irradiance on multiple samples simultaneously beyond UV range. E.g. potential commercial opportunity can be doing infrared exposure studies on certain samples
