Choices in the design of outdoor weathering tests for automotive materials

摘要

Automotive interior and exterior materials often degrade during exposure to the elements of weather. While standard and nonstandard methods have been developed to provide a means of assessing the effect of weathering, questions often arise concerning the relationship of resultant test data with actual in-service performance. in view of the questions concerning the relevance of test data and the rapidly growing focus on quality assurance, there is strong interest in developing improved test protocols. This paper will focus upon the key choices that must be made in the design of outdoor weathering tests.