UV Color Testing Stake Chaser Ground Markers
David Williams
Color-Fast Testing of Stake Chaser® Whiskers®
Over time, color pigments in wire marking flags and ground whiskers will slowly fade due to UV exposure. While fading is going to occur, what colors fade the slowest?
Smi-Carr Stake Chaser brand marking Whiskers, like those used in Trail Chasers brand ground markers, have UV stabilizers added to protect against degradation from UV light. These UV stabilizers work by absorbing or screening out the sun's UV radiation slowing color fade. Even with stabilizers added, different colors absorb UV rays differently resulting in variations in the degradation time. The below test results will give you an idea, but no guarantee, what to expect with how long various Whisker colors will last. Keep in mind these tests were conducted in an area of the United States* with possibly different results from your geographic area.
White Stake Chaser Whiskers - Lasts over 1 year
Pink Stake Chaser Whiskers - Some fade @ 2 months or less; only a trace left @ 9 wks
Red Stake Chaser Whiskers - Some fade @ 2 months or less; only a trace left @ 9 wks
Yellow Stake Chaser Whiskers - Fade possible @ 3 weeks, have tested lasting to 7 retaining sufficient color
Orange Stake Chaser Whiskers - Lasts over 1 year; S.F. U.V. some fade @9.5 Mo.; Key. Some fade @ 11.5 !
Blue Stake Chaser Whiskers - Lasts over 1 year
Purple Stake Chaser Whiskers - Lasts over 1 year
Green Stake Chaser Whiskers - Lasts over 1 year
Glow Orange Stake Chaser Whiskers - Lasts 2 weeks, totally GONE in 1 month
*The actual USA test area was situated around 1,700 feet above sea level with an average 243 days of sunshine, high temp of 95°F and low of 74°F on generally flat terrain, with limited vegetation, at the edge of a humid subtropical climate, with areas to the west being semiarid.
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