Unlike metallic materials, ageing and weathering of plastic composites is not a well understood field. As such, when approached by a GRP water tank manufacturer to simulate weathering of a tank in a Saudi Arabian desert over 20 years, it became clear that several options would need to be explored to develop a viable test.

After much consideration of both the service conditions and manufacturing process, a 1000h boiling bath test was developed and conducted along with mechanical testing before and after ageing.

This boiling bath technique has been added to the increasing number of weathering and ageing techniques available at Testing House. Along with ovens, furnaces, water baths, chemical baths and now a boiling bath, QUV and Salt Spray enclosures can also be utilised through links with local industrial partners.