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ESCA Analysis of Photodegraded Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Film Utilizing Gas Chemical Modification
Author(s) -
Nakayama Y.,
Takahashi K.,
Sasamoto T.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
surface and interface analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.52
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1096-9918
pISSN - 0142-2421
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9918(19960930)24:10<711::aid-sia184>3.0.co;2-a
Subject(s) - trifluoroacetic anhydride , chemistry , ethylene , photodegradation , reactivity (psychology) , chemical composition , chemical modification , trifluoroacetic acid , monomer , side chain , organic chemistry , ultraviolet , polymer chemistry , photochemistry , polymer , materials science , photocatalysis , catalysis , medicine , alternative medicine , optoelectronics , pathology
The degradation of the surface composition of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film by ultraviolet light was analysed by ESCA combined with gas chemical modification (GCM) techniques. A new approach for distinguishing phenolic hydroxyl and alcoholic hydroxyl groups was presented, which uses the difference in reactivity of trifluoroacetic anhydride to the phenolic group and to the alcoholic group. The carboxyl group was detected with trifluoroethanol. The ESCA–GCM results showed differences of the chemical composition of the light‐facing side and the back side of the PET film. According to photodegradation mechanisms of PET reported by other researchers, carboxyl group formation suggested cleavage of the main chain of PET. The number of the phenolic carbon on the light‐facing side corresponded to the existence of 16 phenolic groups per 100 monomeric units.