Rubber and rubber products must resist the deterioration of physical properties with time caused by oxidative and thermal ageing. This test method determines these characteristics in a way that is free of some of the complications inherent in community-type ageing devices, that is where numerous compounds (specimens) are aged in the same enclosure.

The isolation of compounds (specimens) by the use of individual circulating air test tube enclosures prevents cross contamination from volatile products and permits a more representative assessment of ageing performance.

Please refer to the Annex in Test Method D573 for important information on standard compounds used for precision testing for accelerated test ageing evaluation.

1.1 This test method covers a procedure to determine the deterioration induced by heating rubber specimens in individual test tube enclosures with circulating air. This isolation prevents cross contamination of compounds due to loss of volatile materials (for example, antioxidants) and their subsequent migration into other rubber compounds (specimens). The absorption of such volatile materials may influence the degradation rate of rubber compounds.

1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.