Plastics standardized environmental testing

Environmental testing involves exposing plastic specimens or objects to a defined environment (micro-organisms, natural light, heat, humidity, water mist, weather, etc.) and assessing the effect of this environment on the plastics by measuring one or more of their characteristics before, during and after exposure.

In view of the qualitative and quantitative importance of certain plastics applications, we'd like to mention a number of test methods which, although potentially generalizable, have been developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). This is the case, for example, with many material exposure methods that have their origins in work carried out in the electrical industry.

For information on the degradation mechanisms of plastics over time, please refer to the "Physical aging of polymeric materials" [AM3150] and "Chemical aging" files. [AM3151][AM3152][AM3153]