Wetterbeständigkeit von polymeren: Messung der photochemischen abbauprozesse und der schutzwirkung anorganischer pigmente mittels physikalischer untersuchungsmethoden

Abstract

AbstractThe photochemical degradation of polymers (commonly known as UV degradation) takes place in two stages: First, there is the primary process comprising the rapid formation of radicals caused by quanta of visible light; this involves the dissociation of polymer chain molecules and/or the activation of polymer chain molecules respectively of additives, colorants and impurities contained in the polymer. The secondary process consists in oxidation reactions with singulett‐oxygen generated by energy‐transfer and/or between the polymer radicals thus formed and adsorbed oxygen, as a result of which gradual degradation of the polymer takes place.An investigation of these individual reactions using a combination of selected physical test methods leads to an unterstanding of the entire reaction sequence involved in photo‐oxidative degradation. This knowledge provides a basis for systematically improving the weather‐resistance of polymers by modifying their basic polymeric structure or through the controlled use of UV absorbers, quenchers, radical interceptors and antioxidants.The physical test methods themselves are divided into two categories: techniques used for investigating the primary processes (ultra short‐time spectroscopy, ESR) and those used to investigate the secondary processes (XPS, FT‐IR, UV/VIS et al.).With pigmented polymers, attention is focussed on borderline cases in the use of photoactive and photoinactive pigments: as a result of “photocatalytic oxidation”, photoactive pigments (e.g. TiO2 anatase) lead to additional degradation reactions which take place at the same time as the UV degradation reaction. Photoinactive pigments (e.g. high‐grade TiO2‐rutile and iron oxide pigments), on the other hand, exhibit negligible or no photocatalytic oxidation and, by absorbing UV radiation, provides better protection for the polymer against UV degradation.This paper gives an overview of the above‐mentioned physical methods of investigating primary and secondary photochemical processes, taking a thermoplastic material (Polycarbonate) as an example. A description is also given of the photocatalytic oxidation reations which can take place if pigmented polymers are used, and there is a discussion of the degradation‐inhibiting effects of inorganic pigments.