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Independent laboratory tests unequivocally define
Leaf Defier "multi
polymer" thermally fused material, as superior to chemically
coated and untreated flexible urethane filter media used for gutter
protection systems. |
COMPRESSION FORCE
CHARACTERISTICS
Both accelerated weathering tests and
mechanical property evaluations have confirmed the superb quality
and product integrity of the "multi-polymer" thermally fused
spouting filtration system supplied by Leaf Defier™® This patent
pending/proprietary technology has been tested by an independent
quality assurance laboratory and the results detail the value added
nature of this innovative product for the spouting protection
industry.
After testing at 1000 hours and 4500 hours
(equivalent to 5 years exposure) of Xenon light chamber exposure,
the "multi-Polymer" fusion coated material (TYPE 1 [Leaf Defier™®])
retained more than 60 % of its original strength and integrity. The
"chemically coated" product (TYPE 2) tested in the same chamber in
side by side comparison tests, retained only 35 % of its structural
integrity. The "untreated" (TYPE 3 & 4) urethane filtration
media (also tested in side by side comparison) retained only 18 %
and 23 % of their inherent strength from the first stress point of
1000 hours.
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In short the force needed
to deflect the XENON exposed "multi-polymer" fusion coated product
(TYPE 1 [Leaf Defier™®]) by 50 % after 4500 hours of exposure
(equivalent to five years UV exposure) was 28.44 % of the force
needed to deflect the unexposed material. All other materials show
significantly inferior performance at the maximum exposure time of
4500 hours.
SURFACE DEGRADATION CHARACTERISTICS
In all
polymer plastics and coated materials the "surface erosion and
degradation" over time is a very debilitating parameter for the
polymer matrix and its ability to function properly. The Ultraviolet
light from the sun and severe weathering conditions have the most
pronounced effect at the surface of the polymer matrix where in fact
the true protection the plastic provides is compromised. As a result
the long term protection that the polymer provides is most critical
at this surface where the material is exposed to the elements of
nature and subject to reduced performance over time.
After
the XENON arc chamber study was completed, all four materials were
brushed to remove any loose or flaking polymer on the surface
exposed in the weathering chamber to the UV simulated light. This is
the critical surface in terms of performance, as any failure due to
UV exposure and severe weather conditions will be most apparent on
this Xenon exposed surface of the material. As this surface slowly
degrades with exposure to the elements the inherent protection of
the material becomes less effective and the product will fail to
provide the long-term integrity that is required for spouting
protection systems. As we can see here the sample heights before and
after exposure in the weathering chamber certainly give a clearer
picture of the higher value provided by the "multi-polymer" fusion
coated product (TYPE 1 [Leaf Defier™®]). After the materials were
taken from the test chamber and brushed, the sample heights were
then measured to one thousandth of an inch with the following
results noted:
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As the above table
indicates, the % loss or exposed surface degradation was minimal
with the TYPE 1 (Leaf Defier™®)"multi-polymer" fusion coated product
available from Leaf Defier™®. The surface degradation with this
"multi-polymer" material is LESS THAN one tenth of 1 % as compared
to significant losses in surface character with the other materials
tested.
With this type of long term resistance to surface
degradation and product erosion we can see why the "multi-polymer"
gutter protection material from Leaf Defier™® performed so well in
both the UV stability/weathering and mechanical properties testing
of this independent study. This patent pending/proprietary
technology of Leaf Defier™® has provided the spouting protection
marketplace with a thermally fused composite that is a significant
value added material for this industry.
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Testing Parameters and
Protocol
Leaf Defier™® has employed an outside testing
facility that specializes in cellular plastics performance testing.
They exposed our Patent Pending / Proprietary Leaf Defier™®
Materials in a Xenon (IR/UV) GUV (UV) 4500 hour testing process,
simulating five (5) years of all possible weather conditions
including, but not limited to, ultraviolet and infrared radiation,
salt/fog spray for corrosion, high/low humidity, chemical fog,
fine-to-course particulate exposure, freeze/thaw and fine mist to
water spray/immersion.
This accelerated laboratory exposure
program uses state of the art weathering equipment Xenon (IR/UV) GUV
(UV) as follows:
- The testing procedure was an eight month process where
materials were tested for physical characteristics at 0(baseline),
1000, 2200 and 4500 hours.
- At each hour mark, product was removed and tested for, but not
limited to, tensile strength, tear strength, elongation, density,
compression force deflection, surface degradation etc.
- That information is then recorded and compared to the
non-exposed foam specifications in order to get a better idea of
the endurance and degradation of the product over a simulated
time.
This testing was done in accordance to ASTM G 26-96,
ASTM 155-A testing methods common to exterior plastics for building
materials.
FIRE TEST CHARACTERISTICS
In addition to
the weathering tests, this "multi polymer" thermally fused material
was subjected to both UL-94 H testing protocol and the standard 84
Methenamine Pill Test in our laboratory at Leaf Defier™®. The fused
material was successful in passing both tests. The photographs below
show the startling results of the more severe Methenamine Pill Test,
where the test samples were cut from the same block of foam and one
10 X 10 X 3.25 inch sample was treated with the thermally fused post
cure protection and the other sample was left untreated.
As
noted in the photographs, the untreated sample burned completely
through the foam block, while the thermally fused material was
essentially unaffected by the ignition of the Methenamine Pill. This
kind of performance certainly sets the "multi polymer" thermally
fused material at a very high value added level versus the other
cellular spouting protection systems currently available to the
industry.
In the pill test Lily tablets (# 1588) were used to
test two samples that were of equal volume. The thermally fused
material after a one-minute burn time showed a 1cm depression at the
pill contact site with an outside diameter of 2.5 cm.
The
uncoated "raw" sample was completely burned through the entire block
(8 cm thick) in less than 30 seconds. The burn radius was in excess
of 16 cm on the surface of the sample. The Methenamine Pill has a
flash point temperature of 250 degrees Centigrade or 482 degrees
Fahrenheit, which would substantially exceed any temperature that
would come in contact with the thermally fused gutter protection
surface from chimney embers or wood burning stove exhaust. In short,
the fused polymer material provides a substantial level of
protection for almost any spouting system.
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