FACTORS INFLUENCING ACCELERATED OZONE TESTING AND WEATHERING OF CABLE COMPOSITIONS

The ozone resistance of a number of SBR specimens containing different sunproofing waxes was studied under various conditions in the ozone chamber and in outdoor weathering. Information obtained from the study showed that: (1) In outdoor exposure, the temperature at the time of initial exposure has a decided effect on the rate of cracking of SBR compositions containing different waxes. (2) Specimens containing certain waxes that did not crack at the higher temperatures cracked quickly when exposed at low temperatures. (3) The geometry of the specimen and the manner of exposure appear to affect the rate of cracking. (4) The type of recipe employed has a definite influence on stability when exposed to weathering and ozone. On the basis of these results, satisfactory correlation with outdoor exposure may only be obtained by evaluating ozone test data at at least two temperatures, e.g., 40 and 100F. Prepared for presentation at the Annual Symposium on Technical Progress in Communication Wire and Cables (10th), 29 Nov-1 Dec 1961, held at Asbury Park, NJ.