Effect of Xenon Arc Lamp Irradiation on Properties of Aviation Perspex

Aviation perspex YB-2 (PMMA) is irradiated in a xenon arc lamp weather resistance test chamber for 1 620 hours. The relative molecular mass, infrared absorption spectrum, glass transition temperature Tg, light transmittance, surface morphology and tensile strength of YB-2 PMMA exposed in xenon lamp for different durations are tested and characterized using gel permeation chromatograph (GPC), infrared spectrometer (IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), optical haze instrument, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and universal testing machine, and so as to comprehensively analyze the influence of xenon arc lamp on the performance of aviation perspex. The results showed that xenon arc lamp irradiation of 360 hours, the transmittance and glass transition temperature of the PMMA do not change significantly, and no new chemical group is produced according to the infrared testing results, but the relative molecular mass is descend, the tensile strength is decreasing after exposure of 720 hours. The surface of PMMA occured some tiny cracks and the tensile strength is descended 33%.