How UV Degradation Affects Polymers
The effects of UV degradation on polymers range from physical to chemical. Some polymers are only affected in terms of appearance and coloration. The molecular structure of some other polymers becomes weak and breaks easily. For the unfortunate few, they've experienced both.
These are the various ways light and UV degradation affect polymers:
● weakened mechanical properties
UV degradation causes the loss of the mechanical properties that once made the polymer work.
● Reduced molecular weight
Photodegradation results in a decrease in the molecular weight of the polymer. This is the result of the breaking of long molecular chains into shorter bits. When this happens, the polymer weakens, and it's only a matter of time before a little pressure breaks it.
● loss of transparency
Transparent polymers lose their transparency when exposed to photodegradation. This is because polymers scatter incoming light rays instead of letting them pass through.
● release of harmful by-products
The degradation of some polymers is often characterized by the release of harmful by-products. These by-products then escape into the environment and accumulate in animals and humans. The story never ends here.
Now that you understand some of the negative effects of photodegradation on polymers, let's discuss solutions to these problems. Let's talk about light stabilizers.
