With the development of modern buildings and industrial facilities, the application of PVC row trunking in outdoor environments has gradually increased. However, UV radiation in outdoor environments is one of the key factors affecting the service life and performance of PVC row trunking. Therefore, it is extremely important to test its UV resistance and deeply analyze the feasibility of its outdoor application.
Common testing methods include placing PVC row trunking samples in an aging test chamber that simulates outdoor UV irradiation environment and continuously irradiating them for a certain period of time under specific temperature, humidity and UV intensity conditions. The UV resistance of samples is evaluated by regularly testing the appearance changes, mechanical properties (such as tensile strength, flexural strength, etc.) and chemical structure changes of the samples. The test results show that in the initial irradiation stage, the appearance of PVC row trunking may only have slight discoloration, such as slightly yellowing. As the irradiation time increases, cracks and powdering will gradually appear on the surface. From the perspective of mechanical properties, tensile strength and flexural strength will gradually decrease, which is due to the breakage and cross-linking reaction of PVC molecular chains caused by ultraviolet rays, which destroys the internal structure of the material. For example, after long-term high-intensity ultraviolet radiation, the tensile strength may decrease by 30% - 50%, seriously affecting the bearing capacity and stability of the cable trunking.
Although PVC row trunking will deteriorate under ultraviolet radiation, it can still be used outdoors to a certain extent through some measures. In terms of material formulation, appropriate amounts of ultraviolet absorbers and antioxidants can be added. These additives can effectively absorb and consume ultraviolet energy and slow down the degradation rate of PVC molecules. From a design perspective, shielded installation can be adopted, such as installing the cable trunking under the eaves, under the sun visor and other locations with certain shielding to reduce the direct exposure time of ultraviolet rays. In addition, regular maintenance and inspection are also crucial to promptly detect and replace parts that have been severely deteriorated. However, in some outdoor places with extremely strong ultraviolet radiation, harsh environments and lack of maintenance conditions, such as open-air facilities in desert areas and power poles in high-altitude and strong sunshine areas, the application of PVC row trunking may face greater risks, and its performance decay rate may be far beyond expectations. It is necessary to carefully consider or use other more UV-resistant cable trunking materials.
The UV resistance test of PVC row trunking provides important data support for its outdoor application. Although there is a problem of performance degradation, it can be used in some outdoor scenes through material improvement, reasonable design and maintenance. In the future, with the continuous development of materials science, it is expected that PVC row trunking materials or protective coatings with stronger UV resistance will be developed to further expand its application scope in outdoor electrical wiring systems and improve the safety and reliability of outdoor electrical facilities.
