SEDL / STP / STP691-EB / STP36113S

Durability Studies on Polymer Materials Used Externally in Building

Eurin, P
Chief of division and materials research engineers, Centre Scientifique et Technique du Batiment, Grenoble,

Cope, R
Chief of division and materials research engineers, Centre Scientifique et Technique du Batiment, Grenoble,

Marechal, JC
Chief of division and materials research engineers, Centre Scientifique et Technique du Batiment, Grenoble,

Roux, G
Chief of division and materials research engineers, Centre Scientifique et Technique du Batiment, Grenoble,

Pages: 15    Published: Jan 1980

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Abstract

There is evidence that no one form of artificial weathering test will make it possible to forecast with accuracy the durability of all the polymer materials used externally in building. Methods that take account of the mechanism of degradation of individual materials are required. Glass-fiber reinforced polyesters (GRP) break down by weakening of the bond between the glass-fibers and the resin, and an indication of durability can be obtained from measurements of the modulus of dynamic torsion before and after degradation in boiling water and comparison with the results for other GRPs of known durability. The durability of opaque rigid poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) depends on the presence of a thermal stabilizer to inhibit a chain reaction characterized by the elimination of hydrogen chloride and the formation of conjugated double bonds. This process is accompanied by progressive embrittlement. A dehydrochlorination (DHC) test enables the minimum life of a PVC material to be estimated. It seems probable that a constant-speed perforation test, used in conjunction with the DHC test, will improve the estimates of durability for these materials.