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materials testing | Weatherability


Synthetic turf has special weathering concerns


related to wear and orientation


Synthetic turf Synthetic turf is an application that has special weather- ing concerns related to wear and orientation. Late last year, Americhem updated its Field and Logo Color Selector guide, a sample book showing how various colours will weather based on 6,000-10,000 hours of accelerated testing. This length of exposure gives more comprehensive data than the FIFA standard, which is 3,000 hours accelerated testing, the company notes. Americhem’s Larry Campbell spoke about the


This low-energy house in


Nottingham, UK, uses BASF’s heat-reflecting pigments to reduce temperatures


weathering and durability of synthetic turf at AMI’s Grass Yarn and Tufters Forum 2014 in February and noted that location of the field (i.e., light exposure, climate) plays a significant role in real-life weathering. Test standards should match the industry demands for


5 to 10 years outdoor performance, and 9,000-17,000 hours of accelerated testing should be considered depending on the test method and the location and expected life of the field, Campbell said. “Cool colours” that incorporate IR-reflective pigment) are increasingly


used to reduce heat build for reducing expansion/ contraction extremes and providing a more comfortable touch. The reflective pigments can also help protect against damaging light to extend product life, adds Piazza.


Longer life for plastics Enhanced durability is an ongoing opportunity for plastics to grow in various applications as replacements of traditional materials, says Rick King, technical manager for BASF’s Plastic Additives business. He highlights the use of TPO in roofing membranes as one example of plastics’ success. “We continue to see end users push for longer


service life for plastic articles used outdoors, particu- larly in the area of building and construction,” adds BASF’s Finnegan. “This push is driven largely by two key factors: differentiation and sustainability. Manufacturers who can offer their customers extended warranties on their products, backed by performance data, are differentiated from their competitors and have an edge in the marketplace. And in many cases, plastics become more ecologically and economically attractive over traditional materials with relatively small increases in their lifespan. We’ve seen this with artificial turf, where improving the field life by 10% has a dramatic effect on its sustainability profile relative to natural turf.” The growing understanding of weathering testing,


improvements in the predictive accuracy of test methods, and subsequent improvements to plastic formulations can thus be expected to play a significant role in the continuing growth of plastics.


Click on the links for more information: ❙ www.aschulman.comwww.atlas-mts.comwww.americhem.comwww.basf.comwww.q-lab.comwww.vinylsiding.org


42 COMPOUNDING WORLD | June 2014 www.compoundingworld.com


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