Service Life Prediction of Polymers and Plastics Exposed to Outdoor Weathering discusses plastics and polymers and their unique applications, from sealants used in construction, to polymer composites used in planes. While these materials are important enablers for advanced technologies, exposure to weather changes the very properties of plastics that make them so useful. This book reviews current research needs and provides a consensus roadmap of the scientific barriers to validated predictive models for the response of polymers and plastics to outdoor exposure.

1. State-of-the-art assessment and research needs assessment of the current scientific knowledge of in-service prediction of polymers and plastics exposed to outdoor weathering 2. Development of a roadmap for modification and adoption of consensus standards related to in-service prediction of polymers and plastics exposed to outdoor weathering 3. Validating laboratory-based models and scaling-up for service life prediction 4. Predicting Field Degradation of Sealants Using Accelerated Tests from the NIST Solar Sphere 5. Selecting a statistical method for validation of life prediction models 6. Development of Weathering Cycles for Qualitative Service Life Analysis as a Precursor to Accurate Service Life Prediction Protocols: Contemporary Examples 7. Predicting chemical compatibility and aging of materials in a system: a combined experimental and modeling approach 8. Towards a predictive, multi-scale aging model for complex silicone architectures - Insights into structural control and response to environmental stressors 9. Case Studies to Assess the Effects of Accelerated Weathering Stresses Used to Predict Service Life 10. A Study of Nano-mechanical Test Methods as Predictive Tools for Coating Changes in Weathering 11. Degradation of ethylene-propylene-diene elastomer by heat and/or radiation 12. Challenges in Accelerated Weather Testing, Method Development, and Service Life Prediction of Exterior Commercial Airplane Coatings 13. Combination of material characterization and cyclic fatigue testing for investigation of elastomer aging