Reliability and Thermal Aging of Polymers Intended to Severe Operating Conditions

Abstract

The objective of this work is the development of a methodology to determine the useful life based on the storage temperature of NBR O-rings using a reliability-based approach that allows one to predict the use suitability at different supposed storage scenarios (that involve different storage time and temperature) considering the further required in-service performance. Thus, experimental measurements of Shore A hardness have been correlated with storage variables. From the study, it has been verified that for any of the analysis scenarios, the limit established criterion is above the storage time premise considered in the usual nuclear industry practices.