【Popular Science on Polymers and Materials】--014 Aging of Polymer Materials + zdl1966

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This post was last edited by ljtjbx on 2015-11-9 at 15:25. In our daily lives, we can observe many instances of aging in polymer materials. Although various stabilizers are used in the production of these polymer material products, such as heat stabilizers, light stabilizers, antioxidants, cross-linking agents, and so on. However, these stabilizers themselves have certain limitations and a limited lifespan. We can see that the color of the product has lightened, which is due to dye migration. It has become brittle and lacks toughness; this is due to the extraction, migration, and evaporation of plasticizers. 1. If the rubber hose on the gas stove becomes hard and cracks, it is due to the failure of the cross-linking agent (which needs to be replaced regularly) as well as a reduced oil resistance. 2. Bending, sagging, discoloration, and surface cracks in outdoor plastic pipes are signs of the failure of heat and light stabilizers. 3. Raincoats become hard, especially in winter, due to the poor cold resistance of the plasticizers used in them, as well as their extraction and migration. 4. If stains remain on plastic and rubber surfaces or if those surfaces become sticky, it indicates poor oil resistance and poor resistance to bacteria in the products; therefore, they should not come into contact with oils and fats. 5. Additionally, the screens of our mobile phones and the glasses we wear (if the lenses are made of resin) can become sticky and blurry in contact with oils and solvents; it is therefore necessary to avoid such substances, and it’s best not to wear glasses while cooking. By understanding the properties of polymer materials, they can be used properly in daily life to extend their service life.