Patent ID: 9557218
Date: 2017-01-31
CPC Classifications: B01J,G01J,G01N

Claim:
1. A method for determining degradation of a thermoplastic, the method comprising: irradiating the thermoplastic with light having a peak intensity centered at a wavelength from 400 nm to 500 nm and an irradiance from 3,500 W/m maintaining ambient air surrounding the thermoplastic at a temperature from 23° C. to 175° C. during a second period of time; actively or passively cooling the thermoplastic; inspecting the thermoplastic for a first physical change in the thermoplastic after at least the first time period; irradiating the thermoplastic with light having a peak intensity centered at a wavelength from 400 nm to 500 nm and an irradiance from 3,500 W/m maintaining ambient air surrounding the thermoplastic at a temperature from 23° C. to 175° C. for a fourth period of time; actively or passively cooling the thermoplastic; inspecting the thermoplastic for a second physical change in the thermoplastic after at least the third time period; and determining a rate of degradation based upon at least a comparison of the first physical change and the second physical change observed in the thermoplastic.