Plastic materials are extensively used everywhere and in everyday life. The presence of used plastic products in the environment is not acceptable and not part of a circular economy. Polyethylene is among the most widely used plastic materials. Weathering of polyethylene in the environment can occur through UV exposure. In this research, a variety of analytical techniques including attenuated total reflection - Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and nano-indentation were applied to evaluate physical and chemical changes of polyethylene materials subjected to UV irradiation at different exposure levels. It was found that various polyethylene samples undergo structural changes under UV irradiation. As previous work has shown, such structural changes are dynamic, that is, are time-dependent and a function of the resin architecture and molecular weight of the polymers, as well as additives in the polymers. This research demonstrated that the combined use of various analytical tools in the study can provide a more complete picture of polyethylene degradation mechanisms and the fate of plastics in the environment.

Degradation mechanisms of polyethylene materials investigated using a combination of analytical techniques

ACS Fall 2021

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