Service Life Prediction of Polymers and Plastics Exposed to Outdoor Weathering

Book excerpt: Service Life Prediction of Polymers and Plastics Exposed to Outdoor Weathering discusses plastics and polymers and their unique applications, from sealants used in construction, to polymer composites used in planes. While these materials are important enablers for advanced technologies, exposure to weather changes the very properties of plastics that make them so useful. This book reviews current research needs and provides a consensus roadmap of the scientific barriers to validated predictive models for the response of polymers and plastics to outdoor exposure. Despite extensive efforts over the past 20-30 years, testing of polymeric materials in accelerated or natural weathering conditions and the interpretation of the weathering results still require substantial improvements. This book represents the state-of-the-art in the prediction techniques available and in development. Engineers and materials scientists working in this field will be able to use the content of this book to assess the strengths and challenges of a range of different methods and approaches. - Enables engineers and scientists in a range of industries to more successfully predict the durability of polymers, paints and coatings when exposed to weather - Provides the latest information to help determine the sustainability of polymeric materials - Reviews the current state-of-the-art in this area and identifies research needs that are followed by more detailed discussions of specific polymers and applications