An investigation on some surface properties of filled thermosetting resins subjected to thermal ageing and environmental ageing

Some preliminary results of a research program aimed to the study of physical chemical and electrical effects of different types of ageing on four thermosetting resins are presented. The selected materials were submitted to: a) thermal ageing (150 °C, three months); b) environmental ageing bath using a weather-o-meter and a dry U.V. irradiation chamber. The results of tracking and fog chamber tests, physical and chemical tests, together with microstructure observations carried out on aged and non aged materials, are reported.