Surface photodegradation of a polyolefin copolymer

Abstract Methods and data concerning the morphological and microstructural characterizations of the surface of a polypropylene copolymer (PP-PE) are presented: samples of this polymer were moulded under different temperature conditions; some were subjected to UV irradiation in conditioning chambers such as the Xenotest apparatus. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) gives pictures of a surface morphologies before and after irradiation and shows the emergence of microcracks resulting from polymer photodegradation. Methods such as mercury microporosimetry provide quantitative analyses of these cracks. Selective surface etching of samples reveals crystalline areas in the microstructure of the polymer. Infrared (attenuated total reflection) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction permit determining the crystallinity ratios of the samples before and after degradation.