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Material Selection · UV

Outdoor service.
Sunlight exposure.
UV-stable.

Material selection for UV-exposed applications. Sunlight degrades many plastics. Metals UV-stable. UV-resistant plastics or stabilizers.

01 · Key principles

Key principles.

Metals

UV-stable

Aluminum, steel, stainless: UV doesn't affect.

PMMA (acrylic)

UV-stable plastic

Acrylic naturally UV-stable. 30+ year outdoor life.

PVDF (Kynar)

Premium UV

Premium UV-stable polymer. Architectural applications.

PTFE

UV-stable

PTFE excellent UV. Inert.

Polycarbonate

UV-coated

PC degrades, but UV-coated grades 15+ year outdoor.

UV-stabilized nylon

Stabilized

Nylon with UV stabilizer additives. Several-year outdoor.

ABS

Poor UV

Standard ABS yellows and embrittles outdoor.

Polypropylene

Poor UV

Standard PP degrades UV. Stabilized grades available.

Painted metal

Paint protects

Powder coat or anodize protects substrate from UV.

FAQ

How fast does UV degrade plastic?

Per material. ABS yellows months. PP cracks 1-2 years. UV-stabilized grades extend 5-20×.

UV testing standards?

ASTM G154 (fluorescent UV), G155 (xenon arc). Accelerated weathering chambers.

Coatings for UV protection?

Powder coat protects metal. Paint with UV-stable pigment. Clear UV-block coating preserves natural appearance.

Anodize UV stability?

Type II (decorative dye) varies — black darkens, some colors fade. Type III hardcoat stable.

Outdoor color stability?

Pantone-matched powder + UV-stable pigment best. Some colors (red) less UV-stable than others.

Specifying UV-resistant?

Specify duration: "20-year outdoor". Specify environment: "industrial, salt spray". Manufacturer recommends material + finish system.

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