Relating Laboratory and Outdoor Exposures of Acrylic Melamine Coatings: I. Cumulative Damage Model and Laboratory Exposure Apparatus

Published

January 1, 2002

Author(s)

Jonathan W. Martin, Tinh Nguyen, E Byrd, E Embree, B Dickens

Abstract

A cumulative damage model and a laboratory apparatus are described for linking field and laboratory photodegradation results and for predicting the service life of polymeric materials exposed in the laboratory and field. The apparatus was designed to independently and precisely monitor and control in both space and time the three primary weathering factors causing polymeric materials to degrade when exposed in the field. These factors include temperature, relative humidity, and spectral ultraviolet radiation. A model acrylic melamine coating was exposed in the laboratory apparatus to each of twelve different spectral wavebands and four temperature and four relative humidity environments. The spectral dosage and material damage were measured for each exposure treatment and this data input into the cumulative damage model from which estimates of the spectral quantum yield were made. Variables affecting the accuracy of the measurements are discussed.

Citation

Polymer Degradation and Stability

Volume

75

Issue

No. 1

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

Acrylic Melamine, building technology, coating, cumulative model, degradation, environmental chamber, exposure, photodegradation, quantiative UV

Citation

Martin, J. , Nguyen, T. , Byrd, E. , Embree, E. and Dickens, B. (2002), Relating Laboratory and Outdoor Exposures of Acrylic Melamine Coatings: I. Cumulative Damage Model and Laboratory Exposure Apparatus, Polymer Degradation and Stability (Accessed April 19, 2024)