Analysis of Physical Phenomena and Changes in Thermal and Structural Properties of Polymer Materials after Ageing in Natural Conditions
A. Kalwik, P. Postawa
Department of Technology and Automation, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science, Częstochowa University of Technology, al. Armii Krajowej 19c, 42-200 Częstochowa, Poland
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The paper presents the results of the analysis of physical phenomena accompanying photodegradation processes of the polymers surface layer. During the interaction of ultraviolet radiation, atoms are knocked out of the polymer chains and thus the macromolecules are interrupted, which leads to the imbalancing of structural stability of plastics. The article shows the results of thermal analysis and evaluation of the structure of selected polymeric materials after ageing under natural conditions. The samples produced by injection moulding were aged in the European zone for 10 years. Thermal properties of the reference and degraded samples were tested by thermogravimetric analysis and thermomechanical analysis at dynamically changing loads. By analysing the TGA and DTG curves, the effect of energy of radiation UV on the change of melting enthalpy and mass loss rate of the tested samples was determined.

DOI:10.12693/APhysPolA.139.562
topics: polymeric materials, natural weathering, thermogravimetric analysis