Testing the resistance to oxidation of polypropylene geotextiles at enhanced oxygen pressures

The oxidative stability of polypropylene and polyethylene geotextiles is us ually screened by an oven-ageing test. In order to investigate whether test ing at high oxygen pressure and relatively low temperature can be an altern ative method, polypropylene tape yarns for geotextiles were aged at enhance d oxygen pressures. The results of the experiments as well as theoretical c onsiderations and literature data show that testing at high oxygen pressure s can increase the rate of ageing of geotextiles substantially. However: in general the acceleration factor is dependent on the oxygen pressure and th e ageing conditions as well as on the type of material and the manner of st abilization. A screening test for characterizing the durability of geotexti les based on testing at a particular high oxygen pressure is, therefore, no t simply applicable. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.