How To Test The Environmental Resistance Of Polymers?

Stress Cracking due to environmental factors is the major problem that is usually experienced by the polymers when they are subjected to different weather conditions. The environmental factors such as sunlight, rain, air different changes the properties and behaviour of the polymers and when this get combined with the mechanical stress, the polymers experience cracks on the surface of the material and many similar issues. This is known as Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance. It is quite different from the polymer degradation as it does not affect the strength of the polymeric chains. Due to these cracks, the quality of the material gets affected. Environmental Stress Cracking is the major issue especially in the case of the polymers as compared to that of semi-crystalline and crystalline polymers.

How can the effect of ESC on Polymers be studied?

It is quite impossible for the manufacturers to explore the impact of ESC on the polymers by creating different environment but the behaviour of the polymers under different environmental conditions that can be studied on the basis of the roughness of the molecular structure, surface, chemical bonding, crystalline structure and much more. One of the significant theories of the environmental stress explains that the rain water, salt solution, acidic rain, pollution and related factors badly hampers the life of the polymeric material and leads to the initiation of cracks in the façade of the material.

The cracking of the material due to environmental stress is a major factor that affects the safety of the material. Cracking of polymers in adverse working conditions is the best way for the manufacturers to explain the working life of the product and to test the effect of environment on polymers before using it for a particular application.

ESCR Tester – For Determining the Effect of Environmental factors on Polymers

Presto Stantest designs and manufactures the best quality of Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance Tester to test the quality and resistance of the polymers to environmental stress cracking as it can easily replicate the real working condition. The testing machine is designed using standard test methods that are introduced by various standardization authorities. For more information on Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance, click here.