Exposure weathering

The effect of make-up of roofing asphalts on weathering properties, in terms of the fractions asphaltenes, resins, and oils, has been studied by Thurston (120). Increase of either asphaltenes or oils reduced resistance to weathering, while apparently an optimum content of resins aided permanence under exposure. Weathering properties were dependent not only on the quantities but also on the sources of these fractions, but the effect of source was not sufficiently clarified. 

Table 2. Comparison between 1, 2-EBD and various rubbers in outdoor exposure weatherability test...

Exposure Weathering Light Oxidation Moisture Salt spray... 

Fridstrom, L. et al., 1995. Measuring the contribution of randomness, exposure, weather, and daylight to the variation in road accident counts. Accident analysis and prevention, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 1-20. 

The exterior form of MDF is used in special appHcations requiring durabiHty and resistance to water or weather exposure. Highway signs would be an example of this use of exterior MDF. It is an extremely expensive product and thus is used only for special appHcations requiring its special properties. Another example of use would be where a customer would be willing to pay the additional cost to use a composite which has the exceptional quaHties of MDF, but also has virtually no formaldehyde emissions. 

Weathering. Articles fabricated from FEP are unaffected by weather, and thek resistance to extreme heat, cold, and uv kradiation suits them for apphcations in radar and other electronic components. For example, after 15 years of solar exposure in Florida, the tensile strength (73) and light transmission (96%) of a 25-p.m thick film was unchanged and the film remained crystal clear. Elongation increased slightly for the first 5 to 7 years of outdoor exposure, probably as a result of stress relaxation. Beyond 10 years, a small decrease was observed. 

Environmental Impact of Ambient Ozone. Ozone can be toxic to plants, animals, and fish. The lethal dose, LD q, for albino mice is 3.8 ppmv for a 4-h exposure (156) the 96-h LC q for striped bass, channel catfish, and rainbow trout is 80, 30, and 9.3 ppb, respectively. Small, natural, and anthropogenic atmospheric ozone concentrations can increase the weathering and aging of materials such as plastics, paint, textiles, and mbber. For example, mbber is degraded by reaction of ozone with carbon—carbon double bonds of the mbber polymer, requiring the addition of aromatic amines as ozone scavengers (see Antioxidants Antiozonants). An ozone decomposing polymer (noXon) has been developed that destroys ozone in air or water (157). 

An important property of a pigment is its ability to maintain its color when exposed to light, weather, heat, and chemicals. This property is seldom measured for pigments alone. Rather it is determined for the dispersion of a pigment in a desired medium, eg, paints or plastics, and in many cases it is compared to the performance of a standard pigment. The observed changes are the result of complex pigment and media reactions and their possible interactions. In aH evaluations, time of exposure plays a role. 

ISO 4607, Methods of Exposure to Natural Weathering, ISO, Geneva, Swit2edand, 1978. 

Fig. 5. Effect of uv exposure on nylon-6,6 yam tenacity and whiteness with and without copper salt and alkah haUde in polymer scoured 210-denier 34-filament yams exposed in Xenon-arc Ci65 Weather-Ometer using radiation intensity of 0.55 W/m at a wavelength of 340 nm. Exposure from 0 to 800...

Al—Mg—Si types have excehent corrosion resistance in most weathering exposures including industrial and seacoast atmospheres. Ahoys based on additions... 

Thermoplastics. There are five elastomeric membranes that are thermoplastic. Two materials, chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) and polyisobutylene (PIB), are relatively obscure. Thermoplastic materials can be either heat-fused or solvent-welded. In contrast to Hypalon and uncured EPDM, this abiHty to fuse the membranes together remains throughout the life of the material. However, cleaning of the membrane surface after exposure to weather is required. Correct cleaning procedures for specific membranes are available from the individual manufacturer. 

Wea.ther lbillty. One of the more destmctive elements is exposure to sunlight specifically, ultraviolet (uv) light. AH sealants are affected by weathering, but there is much difference in the effect of weathering on different sealants. Most sHicones are stable with respect to uv exposure. Urethanes and polysulfides show effects of uv exposure, but can be formulated with uv absorbers to provide reasonable lifetimes in most appHcations. However, there are exceptions in aH classes of sealants and specifiers must be carehil to look for test data that has proven a specific sealant s durabHity. The source of the test data is also important data from an independent testing laboratory is generaHy apt to be more reHable. 

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