Polycarbonate Blends Category: Thermoplastic alloys. General Description: Polycarbonate (PC) is frequently blended with polyesters (polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate) and styrenics (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate) to modify its properties for a great variety of end uses.[87] GE Plastics Cycoloy® resins are amorphous PC/ABS blends.
Weathering Properties: Stabilization Tinuvin® 234 protects PC blends from the discoloration associated with exposure to UV light. As shown in Graph 28-3, it takes much longer for the sample containing Tinuvin® 234 to reach the same level of discoloration as the control sample.[87]
Weathering Properties Cycoloy® resins exhibit excellent UV stability. Slight color change and loss of mechanical properties can result after long-term exposure.[94]
Weathering Properties by Material Supplier Trade Name Graph 28-1. Color Change, E, of Pigmented GE Plastics Cycoloy® C1100 PC/ABS after Accelerated UV Exposure as per SAE J1885 (ATLAS Ci65XW) and DIN75202 (XENON450).[94] 8 Ultramarine Blue SAE J1885 DIN75202
7 6
Medium Gray SAE J1885 DIN75202
ΔE
5 4
Dark Gray SAE J1885 DIN75202
3 2 1 0 0
50
100
150
200
Exposure Time (hrs)
250
300
160
The Effects of UV Light and Weather on Plastics and Elastomers
Graph 28-2. Color Change, E, of Pigmented GE Plastics Cycoloy® C1100 PC/ABS after Accelerated UV Exposure as per SAE J1885 (ATLAS Ci65XW) and DIN75202 (XENON450).[94]
Color Change (ΔE or gray scale)
8 Black/gray scale SAE J1960 DIN53387
7 6
Black/ΔE SAE J1960 DIN53387
5 4 3 2 1 0
400
0
800
1200
1600
Exposure Time (hrs)
Graph 28-3. Color Development after Xenon Arc Weatherometer Exposure of PC/ABS (50/50) Blend with Tinuvin® 234 UV Stabilizer.[87] Xenon Arc Weathering, ISO 4892-2, Cycle 102/18