1.1 These practices describe several procedures that are used to determine the age resistance of plastic, thermosetting, and elastomeric materials exposed to oxygen-containing media.

1.2 While this practice focuses on evaluating the age resistance of polymeric materials in oxygen-containing media prior to ignition and combustion testing, it also has relevance for evaluating the age resistance of metals.

1.3 These practices address both established procedures that have a foundation of experience and new procedures that have yet to be validated. The latter are included to promote research and later elaboration in this practice as methods of the former type.

1.4 The results of these practices may not give exact correlation with service performance since service conditions vary widely and may involve multiple factors.

1.5 Three procedures are described for evaluating the age resistance of polymeric materials depending on application and information sought.

1.5.1 Procedure A: Natural Aging This procedure is used to simulate the effect(s) of one or more service stressors on a materials oxygen resistance, and is suitable for evaluating materials that experience continuous or intermittent exposure to elevated temperature during service.

1.5.2 Procedure B: Accelerated Aging Comparative Oxygen Resistance This procedure is suitable for evaluating materials that are used in ambient temperature service, or at a temperature that is otherwise lower than the aging temperature, and is useful for developing oxygen compatibility rankings on a laboratory comparison basis.

1.5.3 Procedure C: Accelerated Aging Lifetime Prediction This procedure is used to determine the relationship between aging temperature and a fixed level of property change, thereby allowing predictions to be made about the effect of prolonged service on oxidative degradation.

1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard, however, all numerical values must also be cited in the systems in which they were actually measured.

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. Specific precautionary statements are given in Section 10.