Indicator devices and articles comprising the indicator device

摘要

An indicator device comprising a first carrier material; a first pigment disposed in the first carrier material, the first pigment capable of being degraded by exposure to UV radiation; and wherein the first carrier material is configured so as to have a varying thickness such that upon exposure to UV radiation, a visible change in the pigment will occur which will result in a varying visible change over a first surface of the first carrier material.

主权项

1. A method of measuring UV degradation of a plastic article,
the method comprising the steps of: providing a plastic article; providing a UV indicator comprising a carrier material having a thickness and a pigment degradable by exposure to UV radiation, the pigment being disposed in the carrier material; and employing the UV indicator to provide a visible indication related to a useful life of the plastic article, the employing step comprising exposing the plastic article together with the UV indicator to substantially the same cumulative amounts of UV radiation for the useful life of the plastic article, wherein UV degradation of the pigment corresponds to UV degradation of the plastic article, and using UV degradation of the pigment to provide the visible indication related to a remaining useful life of the plastic article.