Under the synergistic impact of solar radiation, heat, and moisture, all polymeric materials undergo chemical and physical ageing processes. These weathering effects lead to changes in properties and ultimately to product failure.
Photodegradation, chemical, and physical processes, as well as external stresses run on different time scales. Some effects can easily be accelerated. Others, like diffusion, migration, or water uptake need time to evolve. The result are fundamental limitations in the overall acceleration that can be achieved in an accelerated but correlating laboratory test.
