Learn The Superiority of Leaf Defier®

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 gutter 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:

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 gutter protection marketplace with a thermally fused composite that is a significant value added material for this industry.

• 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.