ASTM D5071

Standard Practice for Exposure of Photodegradable Plastics in a Xenon Arc Apparatus

ASTM D5071 is a standard practice for exposure of photodegradable plastics in a xenon arc apparatus.  This aging part of this practice is done by UV exposure using ASTM G155, also known as a practice for operating xenon arc light apparatus for exposure of non-metallic materials and ASTM D2565, which represents a practice for xenon-arc exposure of plastics intended for outdoor applications.

ASTM D5071 Uses and Factors to Consider

Products made of photodegradable plastics are intended to deteriorate at a faster rate than their normal equivalent when exposed to sunlight, air, water and other weather-related degrading elements. The increased photo degradability is usually achieved by the use of additives in the resin blend. ASTM D5071 is used for assessing the effectiveness of the additives and helping predict how fast a film will photodegrade.  When doing UV testing it is not possible to measure accurately how long it will take for the films to degrade as actual outdoor conditions will vary greatly from region to region and also because it is very difficult to predict the exact time compression factor.

Actual Test Protocol

When testing to ASTM D5071, plastic film samples will be aged as described above using different exposure durations. The exposure duration varies as a function of the film thickness, the actual application that will dictate how long the film should last before it breaks down. Once the accelerated aging phase is completed the samples will be cut in strips and their tensile properties will be measured against an unexposed sample using ASTM D882.  Ideally, plastics films tested per this method should be tested simultaneously so that a comparison base can be established.

If you have any other questions about the ASTM D5071 test or if you would like to speak to a testing professional at Micom Laboratories to discuss a custom test for your specific product, we invite you to contact us today. It will be our pleasure to talk to you and help you with the ASTM D5071 test.

If you are looking for additional information about ASTM D5071, we invite you to read more about Coatings testing, Accelerated aging and Material testing.