Environmental Exposure Effects on Polymers
Ageing is defined as 'long-term chemical and physical changes
during service which lead to
component
property degradation or failure'.
MERL has considerable experience and facilities for the assessment
of environmental effects on polymers, rubbers, composites and adhesive
bonding systems. MERL has a series of thermal ageing ovens and
pressure vessels for conducting elevated temperature environmental
exposures. Thermal cabinets can also be placed on test machines.
Tests can be performed on:
- Test samples to ISO/ASTM/BSI etc
- Standard components
- Structures and sub-structures
Environments that can be studied at ambient, cold or elevated temperatures
include:
- Oils & hydrocarbons
- Alcohols & solvents
- Salt water
- Production fluids
- De-scalers, de-waxers
- De-icers
Why consider environmental effects?
- At higher temperatures many materials become weaker and age more quickly
- Elastomers with higher temperature resistance tend to be weaker
- New materials proposed for higher temperature resistance need to be assessed
- Increasing reliability requirements
- Increasing under-hood/bonnet temperature in automotive applications
- Higher temperature in down hole oil production
- Increased use of composites in super sonic aerospace applications
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