ASTM's durability of nonmetallic material standards provide the appropriate procedures for carrying out environmental exposure tests to determine the durability, service life, and weathering behavior of certain nonmetallic materials. These tests are conducted to examine and evaluate the algal resistance, light exposure behavior, activation spectrum, spectral irradiance and distribution, and microbial susceptibility of nonmetals, which include polymeric materials, glass, and plastic films. These standards also present the proper calibration and operational procedures for the instruments used in conducting such tests such as pyrheliometer, UV radiometer and spectroradiometer, pyranometer, carbon arc, fluorescent, and xenon arc light apparatuses, metal black panel and white panel temperature devices, and sharp cut-on filter. These durability of nonmetallic material standards are useful to manufacturers and other users concerned with such materials and products in understanding their resilience and stability mechanism.
List of durability of nonmetallic material standards developed by ASTM:
