TESTING AND MEASURING Fundamental Aspects for Evaluation of Activation Energy of thermal Degradation of Tetrafluoroethylene-propylene Elastomer by Weight Change

The activation energy of thermal aging of tetrafluoroethylene-propylene elastomer was evaluated by the measurements of the weight change, using two methods. The first one was the aging at constant temperatures ranged from 240° C to 300 °C.

The method of lifetime prediction of the polymer used in the various circumstances has been studied for a long period. When the thermal degradation is predominant on the usage environment, the short time test requires the activation energy of the degradation of the sample. The thermal aging of polymer in air causes the oxidation reaction, molecular chain scission and crosslinking.