"How long will it last?" is one of the most commonly asked questions and one of the most difficult to answer.

Whilst the life expectancy of products has traditionally been predicted from previous in-service experience, the use of polymers in more demanding applications requires a far better understanding of the failure mechanisms that determine a components life expectancy.

NPL's aims are to develop the test methodologies and models that are required to avoid the catastrophic consequences that can result from the failure of materials in a wide range of different commercial applications.

Areas of Research

• Sensing the onset of damage at polymer surfaces due to environmental exposure
• Accelerated ageing protocol for service in hostile conditions
• Non-Destructive Adhesion Measurements
• Environment stress cracking of plastics

For more information, please contact Tony Maxwell