Photodegradable vinyl plastics. III. Comparison of ultraviolet light and sunlight exposure

✍ Scribed by Bernard Freedman

• Book ID: 101580825
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1976
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 375 KB
• Volume: 20
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-8995
• DOI: 10.1002/app.1976.070200406

✦ Synopsis

Polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE) films, blended with additives to enhance photodegradability, were irradiated with UV light and sunlight. In almost every case, photodegradation was greater with outdoor exposure than under laboratory conditions. Explanations for the differences in degradation obtained by the two methods of irradiation are discussed. Based on IR measurements and molecular weight determinations, photo-oxidative changes that occur in PS induced by UV light appear similar t o those induced by sunlight. In addition to the additives previously reported, several new classes of photoinitiators were evaluated. These include selected halocarbonyl compounds, haloalkyl sulfur compounds, and halogen compounds containing certain electron-withdrawing groups. The performance of the additives in vinyl polymer blends is discussed.