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Natural and artificial weathering of low‐density polyethylene (LDPE): Calorimetric analysis
Author(s) -
Sebaa M.,
Servens C.,
Pouyet J.
Publication year - 1992
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.1992.070450614
Subject(s) - low density polyethylene , crystallinity , differential scanning calorimetry , materials science , polyethylene , weathering , composite material , photodegradation , polymer , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , thermodynamics , photocatalysis , geology , physics , geomorphology , engineering , catalysis
Studies of the thermal and photodegradation of two commercial polymers, stabilized and unstabilized low‐density polyethylene (LDPE), show the effects of weathering in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves. The shape and the size of the melting peak vary significantly in thermal aging and in accelerated photoirradiation, but no change was observed in natural weathering implying that the crystallinity remains steady in outdoor exposures. The melting temperatures remain steady for all exposure tests. The fall of mechanical properties and the evolution of chemical structure, followed by IR spectroscopy especially near the carbonyl regions, was also performed. The resistance to UV light irradiation as probed by deformation at break was superior in stabilized LDPE compared to unstabilized LDPE. Simple correlations were not observed between the fall of mechanical properties, the rate of oxidation, and the morphology.