UV-Irradiation Effect on the Photodegradation of Plasticized Poly (Ortho, Meta, and Para-Fluorostyrene) Isomers in Solid Films

Abstract

The photostability of thin films of poly (Fluorostyrene) isomers was studied by irradiation with UV-light, in presence of air at room temperature. The irradiated polymer films were exposed to different intervals of time and the degradation process was investigated with absorption, fluorescence and FT-IR spectroscopic methods. The influence of phthalate and terephthalate plasticizers on photo-oxidative degradation was also investigated. Blending with these plasticizers was found to decrease the stability of the irradiated polymers. The same observation was noticed in the photodegradation of other substituted polystyrenes films. The intensity of absorption was also found to increase with time of irradiation and in the intensity of a new absorption band at longer wavelength. In addition the formation on new fluorescence band at longer wavelength for the irradiated film is an evidence of photodegradation of the irradiated polymer films. The FT-IR spectra of irradiated polymers and for blended polymer films with phthalates and terephthalate, showed an increase in the absorption bands of these isomers indicating the possibility of degradation. The mechanism of photodegradation of these isomers was found to be similar to that of polystyrene. The order of photostability of these isomers was found that poly (p-fluorostyrene) is the most stable isomer and, poly (o-fluorostyrene) is the lowest stable isomer towards irradiation effect.