Prediction of natural weathering of polycarbonate: Regional characteristics of aging behaviors and effect of “synchronicity” between UV irradiance and temperature

Abstract

Polymeric materials used as exterior materials are subject to degradation by light (ultraviolet rays), which may cause aesthetic deterioration such as yellowing and loss of gloss. In this study, we developed a model for predicting changes in the aesthetic properties of polycarbonate, which is often used for roofs and openings for design purposes, based on weather data during outdoor exposure, and attempted to reproduce the degradation data at five exposure sites (Tokyo, Kagoshima, Okinawa, Florida, Arizona). In this paper, we discuss the characteristics of the degradation behavior at the exposure sites that can be inferred from the results. A method to evaluate the phase difference of climate factors is also suggested to explain the discrepancy between the computational model and the measured data.