Following the First Steps of UV Degradation of High Density Polyethylene by Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Ludovic Douminge; S. Mallarino; X. Feaugas; J. Bernard

doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/DDF.289-292.741

Paper Titles

Solute Diffusion in Grain Boundaries – Outside the Scope of Fisher Model
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Concentration Characteristics of Diffusion-Induced Recrystallization
p.719

Jump Frequencies of Cd Tracer Atoms in L1₂ Lanthanide Gallides
p.725

Computer Simulation of Diffusion in Dilute Al-Fe Alloys
p.733

Following the First Steps of UV Degradation of High Density Polyethylene by Fluorescence Spectroscopy
p.741

First-Principle Calculation of Monovacancy and Divacancy Interactions with Atomic Oxygen in Nickel: Thermal Expansion Effects
p.747

Motion of Cadmium Tracer Atoms in Al₁₁R₃ Phases (R=La,Ce,Pr)
p.755

Determination of Grain Boundary Diffusion Coefficients in C-Regime by Hwang-Balluffi Method: Silver Diffusion in Pd
p.763

Oxygen Diffusion and Surface Exchange in Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia and Gadolinia-Doped Ceria Ceramics at Low Temperatures
p.769

HomeDefect and Diffusion ForumDefect and Diffusion Forum Vols. 289-292Following the First Steps of UV Degradation of...

Following the First Steps of UV Degradation of High Density Polyethylene by Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Abstract:

Ultraviolet radiation is one of the major factors that affect weathering of polymers. Indeed, diffusion of oxygen containing groups [-C-O, C=O and C(=O)O-] into the molecular chains of polymers is particularly enhanced by UV irradiation in air, thus entailing structural and chemical changes such as polymeric chain breaking, cross-linking and oxidation. The goal of this study is to predict the photo-chemical ageing of polymers upon UV radiation through a non destructive method: fluorescence spectroscopy. In the case of high density polyethylene (HDPE) the addition of fluorophore is required to make it fluorescent. The spectral features of fluorescence are very sensitive to the interactions between the excited molecules and the matrix. In this way, Fourier-Transform InfraRed spectrophotometry (FTIR) and Differential Scanning calorimetry (DSC) have been employed to correlate the fluorescence spectra with the degradation phenomena.