Weathering of Polymers and Plastic Materials

This book presents the state of the art on the weathering of polymers and plastic materials in outdoor applications, comprising natural weathering, accelerated climatic weathering, laboratory artificial accelerated weathering, and lifetime prediction methodology. It summarizes the most suitable methods of instrumental analysis to access and quantify (when possible) degradation caused by weathering, while also covering the degradation and stabilization of polymers based on environmental and artificially induced factors. Innovative polymer additives and some developments in polymeric materials designed for outdoor applications are also included, emphasizing a few selected cases. the book intends to be an important reference source for those involved in the study of the durability of polymers and plastics, production of plastics for exterior applications, chemists responsible for quality control of plastic products, and researchers and students across plastics engineering, polymer science, polymer chemistry and environmental science.


Luís Eduardo Pimentel Real Graduated in chemical engineering at the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Lisbon, Portugal. He holds a PhD in chemical engineering (IST, Portugal) and a PhD in chemistry (UBP, France). He is a researcher in National Laboratory of Civil Engineering (LNEC), where he has worked since 1990. His activity has been very dispersed and covers several fields, namely applied chemistry, degradation and stabilization of polymers, durability, environmental issues (radon and recycling), biocomposites, assessment of construction products, and technical advice. He is author and co-author of more than 200 publications, including scientific papers, communications, technical guides and reports. He has participated in several European research projects, and in specialized courses and technical training. He was responsible, for several years, for an accredited laboratory of plastics and composites. He was awarded the degree of specialist in metrology by the Portuguese Order of Engineers, for having carried out numerous activities in the scope of quality control of plastic materials and products, doing agreement activity and support for certification, technical auditing in plastic pipe factories located in Portugal and Europe, and participation in technical committees and working groups.