Effect of variables in artificial weathering on the degradation of selected plastics

Artificial weathering devices are used extensively by the plastics industry to aid in the prediction of the weatherability of plastic matrials. Correlations between the results of outdoor and artificial weathering, however, are poor for lack of control and understanding of the exposure variables in these devices. This work summarizs some of the results of an experimental program designed to analyze the effects of variables in artificial weathering on the preoperies of selected commercial plastics. In addition to the presentation of data establishing the importance of each of the variables in artificial weathering, a discussion of the significance of these data with regard to the selection of optimum exposure cycles is given. Furthermore, some new approaches are proposed with regard to obtaining inproved correlations between the results of outdoor and artificial exposure. Model calculations based on the proposed approaches yield a surprisingly high degree of correlation between the two types of exposure.