SEDL / STP / STP691-EB / STP36117S

An Assessment of the Degradation Effects of South African Weather Conditions on Organic Building Materials

Cromarty, RE
Chief technical officer, formerly senior chief research officer, chief technical officer, and senior research officer, National Building Research Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria,

Ahrens, HW
Chief technical officer, formerly senior chief research officer, chief technical officer, and senior research officer, National Building Research Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria,

Van Eeden, GS
Chief technical officer, formerly senior chief research officer, chief technical officer, and senior research officer, National Building Research Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria,

Zahradnik, B
Chief technical officer, formerly senior chief research officer, chief technical officer, and senior research officer, National Building Research Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria,

Pages: 14    Published: Jan 1980

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Abstract

The variations in outdoor weather conditions in Southern Africa are related to the geography of the country and the influence of these different conditions on organic materials is discussed.

The visual changes in a series of organic building materials that have been exposed to different climates for 6 years are recorded and commented on without attempting to elucidate the mechanism of degradation.

The physical changes that occur as a result of exposure in polychloroprene rubber sheets that originally conformed to standard specifications, are detailed and discussed.

The effectiveness of various ultraviolet (UV) absorbers on the rate of degradation of polypropylene under conditions of natural and accelerated artificial exposure is discussed.

The overall suitability of organic building materials for use under South African conditions are discussed and recommendations made.