Prototype Testing and Evaluation

Testing allows isolation of the individual parameters, a usefiil feature if the application involves a complex and varied environment or if the behavior of the prototype is not predictable. Accelerated simulation of in-service conditions is often feasible by applying environmental factors that are most influential in product lifetime, such as stresses, strains, temperature, and humidity fluctuations sunlight exposure and attack by solvents. 

Temperature or humidity fluctuations can be accelerated only to the point of maintaining uniform penetration that is likely in the end use environment. If creep or vibration is expected in service, time-temperature superposition may often be applied to accelerate laboratory testing. This technique mathematically predicts the material s response in service, based on laboratory characterization of the material over a 

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