Abstract
This paper examines morphological and nanomechanical changes as compositional evolution occurs because of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in thin films of bituminous adhesives. Such an insight is important for developing strategies to enhance sustainable applications of such adhesives for coating and composite manufacturing. However, the shallow penetration depth of UV light in bitumen complicates efforts to isolate its effects. To address this question, this study examined the effects of UV exposure on spin-coated films of bitumen that are 600 nm thick. Bitumen thin films were UV-aged in an accelerated weathering machine and were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, UV–visible absorption spectroscopy, and nanoindentation. As UV radiation continued from 0 to 400 h, the hydrocarbon content of thin films gradually decreased, leaving behind sulfates and carbonyls and reducing bitumen solubility in org...
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