Evaluation of lifetime of PVC films using the thermogravimetric method

The method of evaluation of lifetime of polymeric material, based on thermogravimetric (TG) method, has been compared with other procedures for PVC film. The other procedures were as follows: the time-temperature superposition and cyclic methods (described in this work), as well as the accelerated photochemical ageing and natural ageing (according to literature data). It has been found that results obtained by the TG method are in agreement with literature data for photochemical and natural ageing at room temperature. At the proccesing temperature of 170-200 degrees C, the results of the TG method are in agreement with the standard measurements of thermal resistance time of PVC at 200 degrees C.