Color development in outdoor applications has been widely used as an indication of breakdown in plastic materials although this does not always indicate a change in physical properties. Appearance factors are easily and precisely evaluated by measuring color and surface changes. Measurement of physical property changes is more comples and more meaningful. An optimum test method should measure a property with time, environment and sample form. Ideally, the data should determine service life. The test specimen should be adaptable to a variety of samples. Of the many physical tests of weatherability, impact strength appears most interesting. An inexpensive Variable Impact Tester was Modified and Developed for Measuring the effect of aging on rigid PVC. Data are presented showing the relation between impact values and temperature, sample thickness, process conditions and various environmental exposures.
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Richard C. Neuman (1966) studied this question.