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Effect of long term humid aging on plastics
Author(s) -
Martin John R.,
Gardner Robert J.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.760210908
Subject(s) - humidity , materials science , thermosetting polymer , composite material , thermoplastic , relative humidity , meteorology , physics
The warm humidity resistance of more than thirty plastic formulations has been evaluated in a program which aged specimens for periods ranging from 10 months to 3 years. Both thermoset and thermoplastic products were included in this study. All of these materials can be used in high humidity at moderate temperatures for short periods of time except where water absorption lowers the glass transition temperature enough to cause distortion. Several of these commercial products exhibit good long term resistance to humidity at temperatures approaching 100°C. However, some are degraded by long term exposure to warm humidity. This hydrolysis effect can result in useful lifetimes which are considerably shorter than would be expected from projections which are based on conventional dry oven aging tests. This broad data base provides a basis for selecting plastics for use in warm, humid environments.