Plastics Degradation Prevention

Nothing lasts forever and degradation is just one of the many mechanisms that dictates the end of life of plastic products. Degradation can occur on a plastic product from the compounding stage to the processing stage, and all through the lifetime use of the product. Significant efforts have been directed towards extending the useful life of plastic products through degradation prevention. In order to prevent excessive degradation, it is critical to combine proper design practices with the correct material formulation including additives such as stabilizers. Furthermore, the processing of the part can also have a direct effect in the resistance of a plastic to degradation over time. This webinar will discuss some aspects that need to be considered when selecting materials, designing, and manufacturing parts in order to reduce the chances of degradation. Examples will also be provided of test methods that would commonly be performed when testing and validating product performance in harsh degradative environments.

By the end of this presentation, you will have a better understanding of:

• Processing and material factors that can lead to degradation.
• The general classes of stabilizers used in plastic parts.
• Test methods commonly used to evaluate parts for degradation.