ASTM-D5272 2008(Redline)

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D5272-08 Standard Practice for Outdoor Exposure Testing of Photodegradable Plastics (Redline)

Published By	Publication Date	Number of Pages
ASTM	2008	5

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Category: ASTM

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Description

Significance and Use

When discarded as litter, articles made using photodegradable plastics are subject to attack by daylight (particularly solar-ultraviolet radiation), oxygen, heat, and water. The 5 ° exposure angle used in this practice represents typical conditions for degradation experienced by litter.

This practice requires characterization of the duration of exposure in terms of solar-ultraviolet radiation. Solar-ultraviolet radiation varies considerably as a function of location and time of year. This can cause dramatic differences in the time required to produce a specified level of degradation in a polymer. Daro has shown that when the same lot of polyethylene containing an iron-salt prodegradant is exposed at various times of the year in a single location, the time required to produce an average of two chain scissions per molecule varied by over 130 %. Daro, and Zerlaut and Anderson have shown that this variability can be significantly reduced when total solar or solar-ultraviolet radiation, or both, is used to characterize the exposure increments.

In addition to variations in level of daylight and solar-ultraviolet radiation, there are significant differences in temperature, and moisture stresses between different locations, and between different years, or periods within a single year, at a single location. Because of this variability, results from this test cannot be used to predict the absolute rate at which photodegradable plastics degrade. Results from this test can be used to compare relative rates of degradation for materials exposed at the same time in the same location. Results from multiple exposures of a common lot of material (during different seasons over several years) at different sites can be used to compare the relative rates at which a particular photodegradable plastic will degrade in each location.

Note 2—An inherent limitation in solar-radiation measurements is that they do not reflect the effects of variations in temperature and moisture exposure, which often can be as important as solar radiation. The same solar-ultraviolet radiation increment will not necessarily give the same changes in properties of the test specimen in different exposure sites. Results from this practice must be regarded as giving only a general indication of the degree of degradability and should always be considered in terms of characteristics of the exposure site as well.

Where measurement of total solar-ultraviolet radiation is not possible, exposure duration can be determined by the number of days, weeks, or months exposed. When this practice is used, a reference material whose degradation properties have been well established must be exposed at the same time as the other materials being tested. The reference material used must be agreed upon by all interested parties. The time to produce a specified level of degradation for each material in this simultaneous exposure is then compared. It is also a good practice to use reference materials when exposure length is determined by total solar or solar UV radiant exposure.

Note 3—A reference material can be a single lot of material which has shown consistent results after a number of exposures. It is not necessary that the composition or properties of the reference material be characterized and certified by a recognized standards agency or group.

FIG. 1 Typical Rack Construction for Exterior Exposures of Photodegradable Plastics

1. Scope

1.1 This practice defines test conditions applicable when Practices D 1435 and G 7 are employed for the outdoor exposure testing of photodegradable plastics.

1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

Note 1—There is no ISO standard that is equivalent to this standard.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

D882 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic Sheeting D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics D1435 Practice for Outdoor Weathering of Plastics D3593 Test Method for Molecular Weight Averages/ Distribution of Certain Polymers by Liquid Size-Exclusion Chromatography (Gel Permeation Chromatography GPC) Using Universal Calibration D3826 Practice for Determining Degradation End Point in Degradable Polyethylene and Polypropylene Using a Tensile Test E772 Terminology of Solar Energy Conversion G7 Practice for Atmospheric Environmental Exposure Testing of Nonmetallic Materials G169 Guide for Application of Basic Statistical Methods to Weathering Tests G183 Practice for Field Use of Pyranometers, Pyrheliometers and UV Radiometers

Keywords

aging; degradable plast

Additional information

Standard Title	D5272-08 Standard Practice for Outdoor Exposure Testing of Photodegradable Plastics (Redline)
Published Code	ASTM
Publication Date	2008
Pages Count	5

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ASTM-D5272 2008(Redline)

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