Journal
POLYMER DEGRADATION AND STABILITY
Volume 98, Issue 11, Pages 2357-2365Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2013.08.003
Keywords
UV degradation; Photo-degradation; Bio-renewable; Auto-oxidation
Categories
Funding
- National Science Foundation (NSF) [0954314]
- Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research (CPBR) through USEPA grant [EM-83438801]
- Div Of Civil, Mechanical, & Manufact Inn
- Directorate For Engineering [0954314] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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The degradation of a bio-renewable polymer under UV exposure was studied using various methods. Degradation of the bio-renewable polymer increased with increasing exposure time. Enhanced cross-link density in the early stage of degradation was confirmed by Soxhlet extraction. Tensile testing showed a transition from ductile failure to brittle fracture. Surface cracks and embrittlement were primary reasons for most reductions in mechanical properties, such as tensile strength and breaking strain. The effects of degradation were confined to the surface of thick bio-based polymer specimens, confirmed by both SEM and PAS-FTIR. Depth profile studies of degraded samples showed that the concentration of oxidation products, such as hydroxyl and carbonyl groups, varied with depth depending on the diffusion of oxygen. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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