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Natural Weathering Studies of Polypropylene

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Abstract

Polypropylene (PP) has achieved a dominating position and hence, their consumption increases thereby littering, which lead to environmental pollution. Photodegradation seems to be a better choice because of naturally available sunlight as energy source for degradation. The present work involves the study of the variation of degradation behavior of PP film during tropical summer and winter seasons. The photodegradation is followed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic technique. Various indices like hydroxyl, carbonyl, vinylidene, lactones, ester, carboxylic acid and crystallinity are calculated and these values increased after a brief induction period. The variation in the mechanical properties like tensile strength and elongation at break percentages are determined. The scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images of weathered PP showed surface cracks when carbonyl index value increases sharply and the mechanical properties show a sudden decrease. Attempted life time prediction using mathematical models showed that the carbonyl growth is more affected by ultraviolet (UV) and cumulative total solar radiation for PP weathered during summer. The loss in tensile strength of PP weathered during summer is more dependent on the average temperature and the UV portion of the total solar radiation whereas, intensity of UV radiation has profound effect on the tensile strength of PP weathered during winter.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for the financial support from the Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES), DRDO, Timarpur, Delhi, India and also thankful to the Management and the Principal of Kamaraj College of Engineering and Technology and Thiagarajar College for providing facilities to carry out this research. The authors wish to extend their gratitude to Dr. W. Selvamurthy, Chief Controller, DRDO, Delhi for his keen interest in this research. The authors would like to thank to Mr. V. Balamurugan for his help in using SPSS software package.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Polymer Technology, Kamaraj College of Engineering and Technology, S. P. G. C. Nagar, K. Vellakulam Post, 625 701, Tamilnadu, India

    K. Rajakumar, V. Sarasvathy & C. T. Vijayakumar

  2. Post-Graduate and Research Department of Chemistry, Thiagarajar College, Madurai, 625 009, India

    A. Thamarai Chelvan

  3. Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety, DRDO, Timarpur, Delhi, 110 054, India

    R. Chitra

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  1. K. Rajakumar
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  2. V. Sarasvathy
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  3. A. Thamarai Chelvan
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  4. R. Chitra
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  5. C. T. Vijayakumar
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Correspondence to C. T. Vijayakumar.

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Rajakumar, K., Sarasvathy, V., Thamarai Chelvan, A. et al. Natural Weathering Studies of Polypropylene. J Polym Environ 17, 191–202 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-009-0138-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-009-0138-7

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