Artificial accelerated weathering of PVC for outdoor applications: The evolution of physical and mechanical properties

Abstract

The main purpose of this paper is to present the results obtained, during the years 2001 and 2002, from a study developed in LNEC. The object of this study was to assess the synergetic effect of three of the most significant deteriorating climatic agents (radiation, temperature and water) on the evolution of the properties of hard PVC stabilised with titanium dioxide, for outdoor applications. For the purpose, several samples were subject to natural and artificial weathering. Moreover, their physical and mechanical properties were characterised by techniques of analysis and assessment of the surface aspect (colour and brightness), of assessment of the molecular properties by infrared microscopy (MICROFTIR), as well as of determination of the tensile mechanical properties and assessment of the Charpy impact resistance. The paper was both orally presented and by poster at the panel meeting “Ageing, Irradiation, Stabilisation” of the Congress MoDeSt 2002. Therefore, this publication includes the text of the paper, the poster, as well as the slides from the oral communication. The development of the formulations, the ageing and the subsequent characterisation by colorimetry, brightness, Charpy impact and tension, were done in LNEC. The characterisation by infrared microscopy was performed in the Laboratoire de Photochimie Moleculaire et Macromoleculaire of the University Blaise-Pascal, Clermont-Ferrand, France.