Understand Application Requirement for a Specific Location

Selection of the appropriate polymer(s) or structure for a specific application begins with an understanding of the functional requirements for the application. 

What functionality is needed - strength, structure, protective coating, barrier to moisture, oxygen or C02, sterility, or acceptable for food contacts  

For degradable polymers, the next step is to determine when and how the polymer needs to degrade. Are there preferred degradation products Does degradation need to be fast or slow What environmental factors may contribute to the degradation rate - moisture, sunlight, microbes, mechanical stresses, or cyclic weathering  

2 DEGRADATION TESTING PROTOCOL INCLUDING GOAL DEGRADATION PRODUCT 

Once the application performance and degradation requirements are understood, the next step is to review available information or conduct tests to screen product options to determine the most likely products that will meet application expectations. Weathering, aging and durability testing of polymers have been used extensively for years to qualify durable polymers for specific applications. Since the mid 1980s, new standard tests have been developed for degradable polymers [2], 

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