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The ultraviolet activation spectrum of polycarbonate
Author(s) -
Mullen P. A.,
Searle N. Z.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1970.070140320
Subject(s) - polycarbonate , photodegradation , materials science , absorbance , ultraviolet , irradiation , wavelength , ultraviolet light , photochemistry , optics , composite material , optoelectronics , chemistry , organic chemistry , catalysis , photocatalysis , physics , nuclear physics
Previous work has shown that a polymeric phenyl salicylate and a polymeric dihydroxybenzophenone are formed during the irradiation of polycarbonate with nonspectrally dispersed ultraviolet light. In the present studies the photodegradation of polycarbonate film has been investigated as a function of irradiating wavelength using spectrally dispersed light from a xenon are between 2300 and 6300 Å. Maximum changes in absorbance at 3200, 3600, and 4000 Å were induced in the sample by irradiating wavelengths between 2800 and 2900 Å. The wavelength sensitivity of an extruded sample of polycarbonate is compared with results obtained for a solution‐cast thin film of the material. The results of the present study support the stepwise photodegradation mechanism of polycarbonate previously reported and suggest the possibility of an additional photodegradation process.