Weatherability | materials testing
ers in some applications, such as siding, want actual outdoor weathering tests, but in most applications, customers can’t wait years and request accelerated testing,” says Blazey. “In some cases, accelerated testing is more brutal than outdoor testing because it also causes heat aging of the polymer,” he adds. “OEMs may have their own specifications that tweak an industry-specified method to be what they believe is more meaningful for their needs. Compounders, therefore, need to know how to formulate to pass a specific accelerated weathering test.”
At the recent SPE ANTEC conference, Blazey
presented colour-shift results from the accelerated weathering testing of ASA formulations. Network Polymers performed a 12-factorial experiment using four different ASA formulations from high- to low-im- pact and high- to low-gloss in three colours (white, almond and black). “The colour shift results varied by ASA formulation,
testing method, and colour. Although quantitative colour shift results differed between methods, overall colour shifts were within the overall acceptable limits for ASA.
Outdoor tests are currently underway in Florida and Ari- zona to further evaluate and compare the QUV and xenon testing colour-change results,” reports Blazey. “Accelerated testing is a good comparative tool for
screening formulations, and the designed experiment gave us more insight into how to optimize formulations to pass customer-specified weathering tests. Real- world success, of course, goes beyond passing the accelerated weathering specification, but passing the test is the first hurdle,” he concludes.
The Vinyl
Siding Institute certifies its
products based on outdoor
weathering studies
s
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