Chapter 2 - Weathering Standards and Service Life Prediction of Polymers: How Can We Bridge the Gap?

Abstract

Weathering test standards have successfully become the foundation of a large percentage of test programs for evaluating long-term outdoor durability of polymeric materials. Indeed, the weathering testing industry exists in large part because of the work of standards writers around the world. However, over-reliance on historical weathering test standards can hinder development of accurate service life predictions (SLP) for plastics and other durable materials. Much of the recent work in weathering science has focused the developing innovative methods to improve SLP. Two different, yet perhaps complementary, schools of thought exist on the best approach to this complex issue.