Effect of accelerated exposure conditions on the photodegradation of BPA polycarbonate/ABS blends

A BPA polycarbonate/ABS blend containing 2% TiO2 was exposed to xenon are irradiation under SAE J 1885 conditions (quartz/borosilicate filters). “CRD” conditions (borosilicate/borosilicate filters), and ASTM D4459–86 conditions (borosilicate/soda lime filters). The results are consistent with the conclusion that polycarbonate dominates the photochemistry of polycarbonate/ABS blends under SAE J1885 and CRD xenon are exposure conditions. Exposure under ASTM D4459–86 conditions produced results similar to CRD conditions with some additional contribution attributable to the ABS component. The “activation spectrum” of PC/ABS blends under CRD conditions closely resembled the sum of the activation spectra of ABS and PC determined under similar conditions. The well‐known change in mechanism that occurs when polycarbonate is exposed to light with wavelengths < 300 nm was manifested by increased rates of yellowing, surface erosion. and loss of gloss under SAE J 1885 conditions. Because of the mechanism change, testing under quartz/borosilicate filtered xenon are exposure cannot be considered to be appropriate for polycarbonate‐containing formulations.