Plastics and Coatings: Durability, Stabilization, and Testing presents a comprehensive overview of the durability of coatings and plastics, including information on their chemical, photo-oxidation, moisture, heat, and solvent resistance. The scope ranges from predicting the service life performance of coatings and plastics to actual quantification of mechanical and physical manifestations of degradation. Stabilization mechanisms such as the role of pigments and light stabilizers are discussed, as is the influence of processing conditions on residual stress and adhesion.

This book will serve as an authoritative guide for practitioners in the plastics field for use in material selection. Plastics are an increasing part of our way of life, and those who learn to properly utilize plastics, from concept design to end-of-life recycling, will gain a competitive advantage in the global marketplace.

From the Preface: “...In addition, the longevity of plastic in a particular environment is visited in terms of ‘service life predictive properties’. These predictive attributes allow one not only to hasten development, e.g. experimental timelines to define performance are shortened, but also allow one to relate performance to cost, e.g. warranty attributes. Key parameters utilized in developing predictive tests are visited...”

Target Audience: Designers, technologists, and others concerned with plastics durability.

Table of Contents:

Overview of Durability in Coated and Uncoated Plastics

A Critical Review of the Role of Field-Exposure Experiments in Predicting the Service Life of Coatings

Role of UVA/HALS in Durability Protection

Photostabilization of Plastics by Additives and Coatings

Stabilization of Coatings

Role of Stress on Durability of Organic Coatings

Stabilization of Molded-in-Color Plastics

Effects of Injection-Molding on the Durability of Thermoplastics

Weathering Test Methods

Index