Photodegradation of polyethylene in the presence of ferric chloride

Abstract

AbstractEffects of ferric chloride (FeCl3) on photodegradation of high‐density polyethylene (PE) were investigated by using ESR and infrared spectrometry. In the system with irradiation at light of λ > 220 nm, PE irradiated at 77°K yielded an 8‐line spectrum, the intensity of which was markedly weakened by using FeCl3 with the sample, indicating a distinct depression of radical formation. On the other hand, PE with the use of FeCl3 yielded radicals under irradiation only with light of λ > 300 nm, showing a singlet spectrum with a line width of 15 gauss. For photooxidized PE, almost the same effect of FeCl3 was observed. On irradiation at room temperature, PE samples with and without FeCl3 showed a singlet spectrum with line widths of 15 and 25 gauss, respectively. On the other hand, the unsaturated double bond contained in a small amount in PE sample was observed by infrared study to be decreased with photoirradiation; however, the decrease was sharply depressed with the addition of FeCl3 to the sample. The degradation of carbonyl group in a photooxidized sample was markedly affected by photoirradiation, and the decay was obviously reduced for the sample on addition of FeCl3. It is concluded that FeCl3 works upon photodegradation of PE to enhance the Norrish type II reaction and to accelerate the formation of unsaturated double bond in the chain.