Broader use of plastics in building products and a growing desire to minimize painting of automotive parts is increasing the need for reliable predictions of light stability and weathering performance. Accelerated weathering lab instruments and accelerated outdoor test methods are useful tools that give relatively quick answers for R&D, quality control, and material certification. But experts say nothing beats the reality check of natural outdoor testing-even though it takes much longer.
Exposure to heat, cold, UV, and moisture can lead to color changes, surface crazing, chalking, and embrittlement. Failure to test properly for these effects can result in product failures, warranty expenses, lawsuits.
Avoiding such situations requires two precautions, according to experts at weather testing services such as Intertek Plastics Technology Laboratories and Bodycote Testing Group and at companies like Atlas Materials Testing Technology and Q-Lab Corp., which make accelerated weathering/UV testing devices and also provide testing services.