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Photo-oxidation, hydrolysis, thermal oxidation, creep, and fatigue drive plastic aging — often through interacting mechanisms.
ElastoSure by Karax models degradation with physics-based simulation. K-Load predicts performance loss; K-Fail predicts remaining useful life and end-of-life.
No empirical curve-fitting. No invalid Arrhenius extrapolation.
Trusted by Industry, Government & Research Leaders
What Is Plastic & Thermoplastic Aging?
Thermoplastic aging depends on polymer chain chemistry. In PE/PP, photo-oxidation causes chain scission and embrittlement; in nylon, hydrolysis reduces strength in humidity; in PVC, dehydrochlorination causes yellowing and embrittlement.
ElastoSure by Karax couples photo-oxidation, hydrolysis, thermal oxidation with DLO, creep, and fatigue in one physics-based model.
Standards such as ISO 4892, ASTM G154, and ISO 188 test extreme conditions and rely on empirical shift factors. When multiple mechanisms interact, these extrapolations can fail because each has different timescales and temperature sensitivity.
What You Get From ElastoSure for Composite & Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Aging
Output
Creep compliance curve
What It Tells You
How much the plastic deforms permanently under sustained load over time and temperature
Decision Enabled
Set maximum operating stress and temperature limits before design freeze
Embrittlement timeline
When impact strength and elongation-at-break fall below minimum spec
Predict brittle failure risk before field failure; set inspection intervals
Hydrolysis degradation map
Strength loss as a function of humidity, temperature, and time
Specify material grade and design geometry for humid service environments
Photo-oxidation depth (UV)
How deep UV damage has penetrated from the surface into the part
Specify minimum wall thickness and UV stabilizer package for outdoor applications
Remaining Useful Life (RUL)
Time before any end-of-life threshold is crossed
Replace on data, not calendar; reduce over-engineering safety margins with quantified risk
Who Uses This
Automotive
: Plastic clips, brackets & under-hood components — creep and thermal aging (100–140°C)
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Medical & Pharma
Sterilization aging (autoclave, ETO, gamma), hydrolysis & implant polymer RUL
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Aerospace
Plastic structural brackets & radome materials — UV + thermal aging
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ElastoSure in Action
Case Study
CFRP Moisture Aging
Moisture absorption and Tg degradation prediction with coupon test validation.
View Case Study →
Wind Turbine Blade Aging
20-year prediction of fatigue damage and UV surface oxidation.
View Case Study →