Deterioration by Heat, Air, and Pressure: Testing Methods, Standards, and Material Durability Assessment
Materials exposed to combined heat, air (oxygen), and pressure undergo accelerated degradation through thermal oxidation, chain scission, crosslinking, and volatilization. Testing for deterioration under these combined conditions is essential for predicting the long-term performance of rubber, plastics, coatings, and adhesives in service environments ranging from automotive engine compartments to industrial processing equipment. For manufacturers seeking accelerated aging testing at a USA-based testing lab, Infinita Lab provides comprehensive environmental durability testing through its accredited network of over 2,000 partner labs.
How Combined Deterioration Occurs
Elevated temperature increases the rate of chemical reactions that degrade material properties. Oxygen in air drives oxidative degradation, attacking polymer chains and creating free radicals that propagate chain scission and crosslinking. Elevated pressure increases oxygen concentration and diffusion rate into materials, further accelerating oxidative attack. The combined effect is significantly more severe than any single factor alone.
Testing Methods and Standards
ASTM D572 – Rubber Deterioration by Heat and Oxygen
ASTM D572 evaluates rubber deterioration in an oxygen bomb at elevated pressure (2.1 MPa oxygen) and temperature (70°C), measuring changes in tensile strength, elongation, and hardness after specified exposure durations. The high oxygen pressure dramatically accelerates oxidative degradation compared with ambient-air aging.
ASTM D573 – Rubber Deterioration in Air Oven
ASTM D573 evaluates rubber deterioration by heating specimens in a forced-air circulation oven at specified temperatures, measuring property changes from thermal-oxidative aging at atmospheric pressure.
ASTM D865 – Rubber Deterioration by Heating in Air
ASTM D865 uses a test-tube air oven method for small rubber specimens, providing another configuration for evaluating the thermal-oxidative aging of elastomers at elevated temperatures.
Applications
Deterioration testing supports automotive seal and hose material qualification, industrial rubber product life prediction, polymer stabilizer and antioxidant effectiveness evaluation, elastomeric component procurement specifications, and rubber compound development for the oil and gas, automotive, and aerospace industries.
Why Choose Infinita Lab for Environmental Testing?
Infinita Lab is a leading provider of Environmental Testing and streamlined material testing services, addressing the critical challenges faced by emerging businesses and established enterprises. With access to a vast network of over 2,000+ accredited partner labs across the United States, Infinita Lab ensures rapid, accurate, and cost-effective testing solutions. The company’s unique value proposition includes comprehensive project management, confidentiality assurance, and seamless communication through a Single Point of Contact (SPOC) model. By eliminating inefficiencies in traditional material testing workflows, Infinita Lab accelerates research and development (R&D) processes.
Looking for a trusted partner to achieve your research goals? Schedule a meeting with us, send us a request, or call us at (888) 878-3090 to learn more about our services and how we can support you. Request a Quote
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What causes deterioration by heat, air, and pressure? Elevated temperature accelerates chemical reactions, oxygen drives oxidative chain scission and crosslinking, and elevated pressure increases oxygen concentration—combining to degrade rubber and polymer properties faster than any single factor.
What ASTM standards cover this type of deterioration testing? ASTM D572 (oxygen bomb aging), ASTM D573 (air oven aging), ASTM D865 (test tube air oven), and ASTM D3045 (heat aging of plastics) are primary standards for evaluating thermal-oxidative deterioration.
What properties are measured after aging? Tensile strength, elongation, hardness, compression set, and visual appearance are the primary properties evaluated after exposure. Results are expressed as percentage change from unaged control specimens.
Why is oxygen bomb testing more severe than air oven aging? Oxygen bomb testing (ASTM D572) uses pure oxygen at 2.1 MPa pressure, providing a much higher oxygen concentration than ambient air. This dramatically increases the oxidation rate and accelerates aging beyond what air-oven testing achieves.
How is deterioration testing used for product specification? Material specifications define maximum allowable property changes after specified aging conditions. For example, a rubber seal specification may require less than 25% loss in tensile strength after 70 hours at 100°C in air, per ASTM D573.
