Study on The Effect of Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation on Polyvinyl Chloride Polymer
Abstract
This study investigates the effect of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on a number of polymers by incorporating specific chemical compounds. The main findings are summarized as follows: A series of oxazepine compounds were synthesized from the hydrazone compound (KH1), which was prepared using the Schiff base method. These included oxazepine derivatives designated as KH2, KH3, KH4, and KH5. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was exposed to UV radiation, and UV-VIS spectra were recorded. Subsequently, the oxazepine compounds were added to the PVC polymer, and measurements were repeated at different exposure intervals (100, 200, , 300 hours). The results showed that UV radiation induced degradation in the polymer. However, the addition of these compounds (KH6, KH7, KH8, KH9) improved the photostability of the polymers when incorporated at a concentration of 0.5% by weight. All experiments were conducted at room temperature. Another method involved exposing several polymers to natural sunlight. Slight changes were observed in some polymers through absorbance measurements at varying wavelengths. However, the effect was more significant in polymer films. These findings suggest that adding certain compounds to polymers can enhance their resistance to UV radiation.
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