All the materials are exposed to different kinds of environments and unfavorable climatic conditions along the time; also known as ageing. The ageing is a successive shift of state and property that in general leads to a stage of malfunction. The ambient temperature is constantly changing in a comparatively broad range. These temperatures changes will influence in the diverse material’s properties. Particularly in polymer materials, the mechanical properties have very significant changes due to increased temperature; plastics become softer and flexible. In the same way, by decreasing the temperature the plastic become harder and brittle. The unique properties of the Polycarbonate establish it a polymer of choice in a broad range of applications. However, it is relatively expensive compared with other plastics with similar applications, so it is usually reprocessed. Due to the wide range of applications and recycling process in which may involve high temperature processes, it is important to know the thermal endurance along the time of the material. Different methods and conditions to study this material stage of malfunction have been researched. In this study, it was designed a set of accelerated aging in which environmental conditions are mainly focused on temperature and humidity. First, the samples were put under the different aging tests conditions and then they were used for: izod impact test, tensile strength test, TGA and DSC; in order to know the basic physical and thermal properties of the material. Finally, the results were used to predict the shelf life of the polycarbonate 945 respect to work under normal environmental conditions.

All the materials are exposed to different kinds of environments and unfavorable climatic conditions along the time; also known as ageing. The ageing is a successive shift of state and property that in general leads to a stage of malfunction. The ambient temperature is constantly changing in a comparatively broad range. These temperatures changes will influence in the diverse material’s properties. Particularly in polymer materials, the mechanical properties have very significant changes due to increased temperature; plastics become softer and flexible. In the same way, by decreasing the temperature the plastic become harder and brittle. The unique properties of the Polycarbonate establish it a polymer of choice in a broad range of applications. However, it is relatively expensive compared with other plastics with similar applications, so it is usually reprocessed. Due to the wide range of applications and recycling process in which may involve high temperature processes, it is important to know the thermal endurance along the time of the material. Different methods and conditions to study this material stage of malfunction have been researched. In this study, it was designed a set of accelerated aging in which environmental conditions are mainly focused on temperature and humidity. First, the samples were put under the different aging tests conditions and then they were used for: izod impact test, tensile strength test, TGA and DSC; in order to know the basic physical and thermal properties of the material. Finally, the results were used to predict the shelf life of the polycarbonate 945 respect to work under normal environmental conditions.

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