4.1 Rubber and rubber products must resist the deterioration of physical properties with time caused by oxidative and thermal aging. This test method provides a way to assess these performance characteristics of rubber, under certain accelerated conditions as specified.

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

1.1 This test method covers a procedure to determine the relative deterioration resistance of vulcanized rubber in a high temperature and high pressure oxygen environment. There may be no exact correlation between this accelerated test and natural aging of rubber because of the varied conditions of natural aging. This accelerated test is suitable for laboratory compound or product comparisons.

Note 1: For evaluating rubber vulcanizates under less severe conditions more nearly approaching natural aging, the use of Test Methods D573 and D865 is recommended. For evaluating the aging characteristics of rubber vulcanizates used in oxygen enriched atmospheres under conditions simulating natural and accelerated aging at ambient pressure, the use of Practices G114 is recommended.

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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. (For specific precautionary statement, see Note 2.)

1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.