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Photodegradation of poly(vinyl alcohol) under UV and pulsed‐laser irradiation in aqueous solution
Author(s) -
Vijayalakshmi S. P.,
Madras Giridhar
Publication year - 2006
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.23736
Subject(s) - photodegradation , potassium dichromate , vinyl alcohol , aqueous solution , vinyl chloride , irradiation , degradation (telecommunications) , polymer , potassium , polymer degradation , materials science , gel permeation chromatography , chloride , laser , chemistry , nuclear chemistry , photochemistry , inorganic chemistry , photocatalysis , optics , organic chemistry , copolymer , catalysis , telecommunications , physics , computer science , nuclear physics , composite material , metallurgy
The photodegradation of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) in aqueous solution was investigated under UV exposure and pulsed‐laser irradiation. The degradation under UV exposure was studied at different pH values and with the addition of potassium chloride and potassium dichromate. The pulsed‐laser degradation of PVA was investigated with a Nd : YAG laser, operating at a wavelength of 266 nm with about 6‐ns pulses. The pulsed‐laser degradation was studied at different polymer concentrations and light intensities. Samples were analyzed by gel permeation chromatography. The degradation rate coefficients were determined by the application of a continuous distribution model. The photodegradation rates under UV exposure were highest at extremes of pH and were greatly enhanced by the addition of potassium chloride and potassium dichromate. The pulsed‐laser degradation of the polymer decreased with increasing polymer concentration, although a threshold light intensity was required to initiate the degradation process. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 958–966, 2006