NBSIR 73-146

Outdoor Performance of Plastics

X. Final Update of Weathering Data

Walter J. Rossiter, Jr.

Center for Building Technology

Institute for Applied Technology

National Bureau of Standards

March 1973

Final Report

Prepared for Manufacturing Chemists Association

1825 Connecticut Avenue. N. W.

Wasliington, D. C. 20009

NBSIR 73-146

OURDOOR PERFORMANCE OF PLASTICS

X. FINAL UPDATE OF WEATHERING DATA

Walter J. Rossiter, Jr.

Center for Building Technology

Institute for Applied Technology

National Bureau of Standards

March 1973

Final Report

Prepared for Manufacturing Chemists Association

1825 Connecticut Avenue, N. W.

Washington, D. C. 20009

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Frederick B. Dent, Secretary

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, Richard W. Roberts. Director

Abstract

Twenty plastics samples have been weathered in Arizona, Florida,

and Washington, D. C. for 72 months. The weathering of these samples has

been followed by measuring changes in the specimen's color, tensile,

flexure, gloss, and haze properties. Computer-generated graphs of these

changes with time are presented.

i

This is the final updating of the Manufacturing Chemists' Association's

(MCA) project which studied the outdoor performance of plastics. Since

1966, twenty plastics samples (Table I) have been exposed outdoors at

three different exposure sites (Table II) which represent varying climatic

conditions encountered in the United States. The MCA project and preliminary results have been described in a series of National Bureau of

Standards Reports. These reports [1-9] , all entitled Outdoor Performance

of plastics , have the following subtitles:

I. Introduction and Color-Change [ l] .

II. Tensile and Flexural Properties [ 2j .

III. Statistical Model for Predicting Weatherabil ity [3].

IV. Significance of Climate [4].

V. Surface Roughness [5].

VI. Electrical Properties [6].

VII. Haze and Gloss [ 7]

.

VIII. First Update of Weathering Data [8].

IX. Second Update of Weathering Data [9].

Changes in those properties listed in the above subtitles were the

means for determining the outdoor performance of the twenty samples. A

computer was used for data storage and retrieval . Graphs of property

vs. outdoor exposure time were generated by the computer. These graphs

were reproduced in the various reports as the method of reporting

property changes.

" Numbers in brackets refer to references which are found in the back

of this report.

1
From the preliminary results, it was decided that color, tension,

flexure, gloss, and haze would be the significant properties to follow

for the remainder of the project. The samples remaining have now been

exposed outdoors for 72 months. These five properties have been measured

for each plastic. The physical testing was again performed by MCA

member companies (Table III), and the test results sent here to the

National Bureau of Standards for incorporation with the earlier data.

Although these data were originally reported in three separate NBS reports

[1, 2, 7], the data through 72 months for the five properties are all

presented in this single report.

Experimental details are not given here; such details can be found

in the earlier reports. Again, the data are presented as reproductions of

the computer-generated graphs (Figures 1-81B). These graphs differ from

the earlier ones in that the X-axis (time in months) has been expanded

to 72 months. Thus, the data points are compressed when compared to

those of the original graphs.

This report includes all previous data. Some plastics have failed

in the field and obviously there are no additional data for these

samples. Graphs with the expanded time have been reproduced for those

samples for which there are no additional data. This report is meant to

be a replacement for the two previous supplemental ones [8, 9] . The

weathering of the plastics can be followed without reference to them.

The graphs are identical except for the additional data.

The color data presented in the first report [l] were erroneous.

These data were corrected in the first supplemental report [Sj. No

2
comparisons can be made between the graphs for color change in the first

report and any of the updates.

This report is only intended as a presentation of the new data.

No discussion of the accumulated data is presented.

3
References

[l] "Outdoor Performance of Plastics. I. Introduction and Color-Change",

J. E. Clark, N. E. Green, and P. Giesecke, NBS Report #9912, Sept.

1968.

[2] "Outdoor Performance of Plastics. II. Tensile and Flexural

Properites", J. E. Clark, G. E. Gulmer, R. C. Neuman, and J. A.

Slater, NBS Report #10014, March 1969.

[3] "Outdoor Performance of Plastics. III. Statistical Model for

Predicting Weatherability" , J. E. Clark and J. A. Slater, NBS Report

#10016, Oct. 1969.

[4] "Outdoor Performance of Plastics. IV. Significance of Climate",

J. E. Clark and C. Bal Krishna, NBS Report #10156, Jan. 1970.

[5] "Outdoor Performance of Plastics. V. Surface Roughness", J. E. Clark, C. Bal Krishna, H. C. Gunst, and J. R. Dagon, NBS Report

#10179, March 1970.

[6] "Outdoor Performance of Plastics. VI. Electrical Properites",

J. E. Clark, J. A. Slater, and V. L. Bergeron, NBS Report #10185,

March 1970.

[7] "Outdoor Performance of Plastics. VII. Haze and Gloss", J. E. Clark,

C. Bal Krishna, G. C. Claver, and F. H. McTigue, NBS Report #10188,

March 1970.

[8] "Outdoor Performance of Plastics. VIII. First Update of Weathering

Data", W. J. Rossiter, Jr. and W. D. Hayes, Jr., NBS Report

#10479, September 1971.

[9] "Outdoor Performance of Plastics. IX. Second Update of Weathering

Data", W. J. Rossiter, Jr., NBS Report #10856, May 1972.

4
Table I

List of Twenty Plastics

Base Polymer Plastic

Polyethylene Translucent - 1 mil

- 60 mil

Poly (methyl methacrylate) Clear - 60 mil

Poly (vinyl fluoride) Clear - 1 mil

Poly (ethylene terephthalate) Clear - 5 mil

Polyester/ x-1 inked Clear - 60 mil

J- C CI 1.

Ba-Cd

_ A rm* 1

'-r 111 J. i - 10 mil

- 60 mil

L» 1 c a L

Sn

- A- mil

- 10 mil

- bU mii

Clear - 60 mil

White

Ba-Cd

- 4 mil

- 10 mil

- 60 mil

White

Sn

- 4 mil

- 10 mil

- 60 mil

White - 60 mil

5
Table II

Exposure Sites

Name and Location Letter Designation for Graphs

Desert Sunshine Exposure Tests, Inc. A

phoenix, Arizona

South Florida Test Service, Inc<

Miami, Florida

Old NBS Site ' : Connecticut & Van Ness Streets W

Washington, D. C.

Samples were placed on the exposure racks facing south at 45° from the

horizontal

.

6
Table III

plastics Evaluation

Property Company & Location

Color American Cyanamid Company

Stamford, Connecticut

Tensile W. R. Grace & Company

Flexure Clarksville, Maryland

Haze

Monsanto Company

Indian Orchard, Massachusetts

Gloss Hercules Incorporated

Wilmington, Delaware

7
List of Figures

Numbers

1-20 Color-change, AE (Delta E)

21 - 40 Ultimate Elongation (% of Initial Value)

41-48 5 Percent Stress (PSI)

49-68 Gloss (in percent)

69A - 81A Haze at 421 nm (in percent)

69B - 81B ' Haze at 550 nm (in percent)

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1 U.S. DE=T. OF COMM. 1. PUBLICATION OR RKPORl' NO.

1 ^-'-'^fHEET"'''^'"^ NBSIR 73-146

2, Gov't Accession

No.

3. Recipient's Accession No.

1 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE

Outdoor Performance of Plastics. Z. Final Update of

Weathering Data

5. Publication Date

6. Performing Organization Code

7. AUTHOR(S)

W. Rossiter

Q O *»r ( t\rmi fi D r ri 1 7 n f I o n NBSIR 73-146

9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20234

10. Project/Task/ Work Unit No. 4616160

11. Contract/Grant No.

12, Sponsoring Organization Name and Address

Manufacturing Chemists Association

1825 Connecticut Avenue, N. W.

Washington, D. C. 20009

13. Type of Report & Period

Covered

Final Report 1972

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

16. ABSTRACT (A 200-word or less factual summary of most significant information. If document includes a significant

bibliography or literature survey, mention it here.) Twenty plastics samples have been weathered in Arizona, Florida, and Washington,

D. C. for 72 months. The weathering of these samples has been followed by measuring

changes in the specimen's color, tensile, flexure, gloss, and haze properties.

Computer-generated graphs of these changes with time are presented.

• KEY WORDS (Alphabetical order, separated by semicolons) Manufacturing Chemists' Association (MCS) ; performance of plastics outdoors; plastics; weathering of plastics

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