Accelerated Isothermal Material Life Test Based on Equal Sample Degradation States

This method provides a rapid way to verify or refine the activation energy on which the design life estimate of a part, subject to thermal degradation, is based. Data on material activation energy is now usually available, although some research effort is often required to find it. Suppliers or manufacturers may provide test data on aging characteristics of the part. In this case the test serves to validate the supplier data and support the subsequentdesign life estimate.This accelerated procedure, based on the same Arrhenius model of the thermal aging process as standard tests, uses an initial estimate of activation energy to design a time/temperature test sequence that can be completed in less than one week. More precise estimates of activation energy can be obtained by iterating the test procedure based on the first test results.