ASTM D5208

Standard Practice for Fluorescent Ultraviolet (UV) Exposure of Photodegradable Plastics

ASTM D5208 is a fluorescent ultraviolet (UV) exposure of photodegradable plastics. The test is based on two practices: ASTM G151 and ASTM G154. The ASTM D5208 test method gives the specific test conditions to be used with these two practices as well as instructions for sample preparation and test results evaluation. Micom offers ASTM D5208 test services as part of its test offering for polymer testing.

ASTM D5208 uses and factors to consider

Once they were used, photodegradable plastics are intended to exhibit rapid loss of chemical, physical, and mechanical properties when exposed to light, heat and water.  Typically, chemically reactive sites are added to the polymer chains, which facilitate polymer degradation by the following outdoor conditions: outdoor light, water and heat.

ASTM D5208 can also be used for testing insulating materials as long as they have a maximum thickness of 20 mm.

Samples will be taken before the exposure and at different time intervals.  The samples will be used to measure the mechanical properties or the loss thereof.  Samples should be tested as they are extracted i.e. no grouping as their mechanical properties will still evolve even if they are no longer exposed. 

Typical experimental parameters

• The number of specimens per product will vary as a function of the number of specimens required for the mechanical testing as well as the number of time intervals. A typical number of time intervals should be approximately five.
• Sample shape: testing to ASTM D5208 usually requires many samples. For efficiency reasons, it is most of the time easier to expose large sheets instead of the typical 3 X 6 samples

If you have any other questions about the ASTM D5208 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 D5208 test.

Additional tests methods

If you are looking for additional information about ASTM D5208, we invite you to read more about Polymer testing.