Natural and artificial weathering of polyethylene plastics

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Abstract
Empirical test data on low‐density polyethylenes exposed to the elements for very long times are compared with results on samples of the same materials subjected to artificial “weathering” in a modified carbon arc machine.The test results conform to the expression where ta is hours of accelerated weathering, tn years of natural exposure, and the constants B and k have values of 150 and 2.4, respectively, for the materials and test conditions involved.Earlier results are confirmed in that optimum weather resistance is found to depend on good dispersion of a fine‐particle black. Protection improves with concentration up to the limit of about 5% by weight imposed by degenerative effects on mechanical properties from higher loadings of the fine channel blacks. Dependence of weatherability on molecular weight (melt index) is noted.