A report is presented on the development of a test for determining the long-term oxidation resistance of polyolefin materials, which is accelerated not only by elevated temperatures but also by increased oxygen pressure and a stirred aqueous medium. The method permits durability tests to be carried out at markedly lower temperatures with reasonable testing durations and significantly reduced diffusion limited oxidation effects and allows for physical and chemical impacts of aqueous media. Oxidative durability can be assessed by autoclave immersion exposures at three different temperatures (60, 70 and 80 degrees C) and 50 bar oxygen pressure and at 80 degrees C and two different oxygen pressures (usually 10 and 20 bar). Accelerated test data are evaluated by modified Arrhenius equations with the application of a three-dimensional regression analysis. The application of the test method to various materials, including PP non-woven materials and geosynthetics is demonstrated. 10 refs.
Service life of geosynthetics made of polyolefin materials is mainly limited by oxidative degradation. Durability of polyolefin products depend on formulation, morphology resulting from manufacturing, design and particularly on the antioxidants used. Although the fundamental oxidative reactions are known, the complex effect of geosynthetic characteristics and external influences mean that durability assessments require practical tests.
The assessment of oxidative durability involves exposure to accelerating conditions as well as the material characterisation with respect to the state of stabilisation and/or degradation (e.g. by tensile testing and/or oxidation induction time).
The autoclave test developed by BAM for durability assessments of polyolefin geosynthetics is based on the simultaneous application of moderately elevated temperatures (up to 80 degrees Celsius) and elevated oxygen pressures (up to 5.0 MPa) in combination with a surrounding aqueous medium. Thus this test method provides several advantages in comparison to conventional oven testing, especially with respect to test duration, impact of surrounding environment and the potential to differentiate and rank oxidative resistance between products of very different dimensions (surface/volume) and stabilisation.
In view of the increasing demand for durability assessments of geosynthetic products with lifetimes significantly exceeding 25 years, the contribution is focused on practical aspects concerning implementation and optimisation of test procedures, conditions and evaluation of results. Furthermore, advanced approaches based on multiple exposure conditions will also be included and corresponding calculations of expected service life in typical applications will be evaluated with respect to significance and repeatability. Thereby involved standards and recommendations - such as EN ISO 13438, Part C or EAG-EDT - are considered.