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Polymer degradation
Defination:
Polymer degradation is a change in the properties Such as tensile strength, color, shape, etc.of
a polymer or polymer-based product under the influence of one or more environmental factors
such as heat, light or chemicals such as acids, alkalis and some salts.
Theory:
Deteriorative reactions occur during processing, when polymers are subjected to heat, oxygen
and mechanical stress, and during the useful life of the materials when oxygen and sunlight are
the most important degradative agencies. In more specialised applications, degradation may be
induced by high energy radiation, ozone, atmospheric pollutants, mechanical stress, biological
action, hydrolysis and many other influences. The mechanisms of these reactions and
stabilisation processes must be understood if the technology and application of polymers are to
continue to advance. The reporting of investigations of this kind is therefore a major function of
this journal.
However there are also new developments in polymer technology in which degradation
processes find positive applications. For example, photodegradable plastics are now available,
the recycling of polymeric products will become increasingly important, degradation and
combustion studies are involved in the definition of the fire hazards which are associated with
polymeric materials and the microelectronics industry is vitally dependent upon polymer
degradation in the manufacture of its circuitry. Polymer properties may also be improved by
processes like curing and grafting, the chemistry of which can be closely related to that which
causes physical deterioration in other circumstances.
Radiation of various kinds is used to initiate many of these modern technological processes so
that polymer photochemistry has come to a new prominence and finds a major place in this
journal.
The study of all these processes has made extensive use of modern instrumental analytical
methods and the various spectrometric, chromatographic and thermal analysis techniques have
been particularly prominent.

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There is clearly a strong common bond between investigations in various parts of the field.
Polymer Degradation and Stability provides a forum for the publication of their work.
Factors Causing Degradation:
Heat
Mechanical energy
Radiation
Ozone
Changes Due to Degradation
Chains undergo scission
Crosslinking
Oxidation
Other chemical reactions
Types of polymer degradation:
Thermal
Thermo oxidative
Photo
Photo oxidative
Mechanical
Hydrolytic
Chemical
Biological
Degradation by irradiation
Pyrolysis
Oxidative pyrolysis
Examples:
Deterioration of Acrylic Paintings and Pieces of Art
By 1992 acrylic based paintings worth millions of pounds by leading artists of the 1960s
including David Hockney and Jackson Pollock had begun to suffer discolouration, cracking and

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greyness due to the absorption of dust and atmospheric pollutants. These paints seemed
particularly vulnerable. At room temperature they are relatively soft and attract dirt which
becomes embedded. However, to date no method has been found of cleaning them.
Impact on the Photographic Film Industry
The photographic film industry was also badly hit when irreplaceable archive nitrate stock
started to decompose. Today, the National Film Archive transfers cellulose nitrate and cellulose
triacetate onto more stable polyester at the rate of a million metres a year.
Preserving Plastics Pieces in Museums
The PHS/CU survey unearthed some interesting facts. For example, 40% of museums surveyed
contain plastics objects manufactured and collected since 1980, and modem plastics are also
showing symptoms of decay. Polyurethane foam appears to be one of the worst victims, and
many early video and audio tapes on magnetic media are already unplayable.