Patent ID: 8122755

Claim:
A method for evaluating relative wear life of a polymeric specimen, comprising: a) providing at least two sets of polymeric specimens, wherein (i) each specimen within each set is made of same composition and in same manner, or (ii) each specimen within each set is made of same composition as at least one other set and made in a different manner; or (iii) each specimen within each set is made of different composition as at least one other set and made in same manner; or (iv) each specimen within each set is made of a different composition as at least one other set and made in different manner; b) determining wear rate as a function of aging time for each set, by: (i) reserving at least one specimen as an unaged control; (ii) aging each remaining specimen by heating up to a final temperature of 482° C. under a specified atmosphere and for a specified aging time; (iii) measuring the wear rate of the unaged and aged specimens over time; wherein the aged specimens have not been subjected to wear prior to aging; c) comparing the wear rates as determined in step (b) for each set of specimens.