ASTM D5870-95 - 1.1.1995
 
1. Scope

1.1 This practice covers procedures for the calculation of a property retention index (PRI) of thermoplastic and thermoset plastics after exposure to thermal aging, natural or artificial accelerated weathering, or chemical exposures.

1.2 This practice is not intended to establish a fixed procedure for conducting the exposure test, but it is intended to provide a set of specific procedures used to calculate the retention index of a characteristic property of the material after it has been exposed. Selection of the specific exposure test conditions depends on the material being tested and the property being measured. It is up to the user to determine which exposure test conditions are most relevant to the specific material and the service condition being used. The exposure test used must be conducted according to conditions described in specific exposure standards.

1.3 This practice does not describe procedures for sampling the materials to be tested. These procedures are described in the standards and specifications applicable to the material being evaluated.

1.4 The procedure used to calculate the PRI depends on whether the test used to characterize the materials being exposed is destructive or nondestructive. The PRI can be useful in describing short-term mechanical, electrical, and other properties of plastics at specified temperatures after the materials have been subjected to an exposure test.

1.5 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.

Note 1-There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard. ISO DIS 11248 is significantly different since it pertains only to thermosetting resins.
 
2. Referenced Documents

D1435-20

Standard Practice for Outdoor Weathering of Plastics

D1499-13(2021)

Standard Practice for Filtered Open-Flame Carbon-Arc Exposures of Plastics

ISO 291

PlasticsStandard Atmospheres for Conditioning and Testing

G113-24

Standard Terminology Relating to Natural and Artificial Weathering Tests of Nonmetallic Materials

D6360-15(2021)

Standard Practice for Enclosed Carbon-Arc Exposures of Plastics

D4674-25

Standard Practice for Accelerated Testing for Color Stability of Plastics Exposed to Indoor Office Environments

D4459-21

Standard Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposure of Plastics Intended for Indoor Applications

ISO11248

PlasticsThermosetting Molding Materials, Evaluation of Short-Term Performance at Elevated Temperatures

ISO 4892

PlasticsMethods of Exposure to Laboratory Light Sources Part 1: General Guidance, Part 2: Xenon Arc Lamps, Part 3: Fluorescent UV Lamps, and Part 4: Open Flame Carbon Arc Exposures

ISO 877

PlasticsMethods of Exposure to Solar Radiation, Part 1: General Guidance, Part 2: Direct Weathering and Exposure Behind Window Glass, and Part 3: Intensified Weathering Using Concentrated Solar Radiation

D883-26b

Standard Terminology Relating to Plastics (Includes all amendments and changes 8/24/2026).

D618-21

Standard Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing

D543-21

Standard Practices for Evaluating the Resistance of Plastics to Chemical Reagents

D4364-13(2022)e1

Standard Practice for Performing Outdoor Accelerated Weathering Tests of Plastics Using Concentrated Sunlight (Includes all amendments and changes 2/25/2022).

D4329-26

Standard Practice for Fluorescent Ultraviolet (UV) Lamp Apparatus Exposure of Plastics

D3045-18(2026)

Standard Practice for Heat Aging of Plastics Without Load

D2565-23

Standard Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposure of Plastics Intended for Outdoor Applications

D1898-68(1989)

Standard Practice for Sampling of Plastics (Withdrawn 1998)