UV Aging Effects on Polycarbonate Properties
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TECHNICAL ARTICLE—PEER-REVIEWED
UV Aging Effects on Polycarbonate Properties S. Redjala . N. Aı¨t Hocine . R. Ferhoum . M. Gratton . N. Poirot . S. Azem
Submitted: 15 April 2020 / in revised form: 21 July 2020 Ó ASM International 2020
Abstract This work deals with the effects of ultraviolet (UV) aging on polycarbonate (PC) properties. Thus, a PC was subjected to accelerated UV radiation with a wavelength range from 200 to 280 nm, at different times. Induced changes in the material were studied by UV–visible spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The material surface was analyzed by optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Microhardness and uniaxial tension tests were performed on the aged and no-aged materials. It appeared that the studied PC turns yellow with UV aging time, in agreement with UV–visible spectrophotometry results that highlighted a loss in transparency of the aged material. The microhardness measurements showed that PC samples were entirely affected by UV radiations. In addition, the material performances in uniaxial tension dropped with UV aging. The decrease in PC mechanical properties was related to the rupture of the most vulnerable bonds, revealed by FTIR analyses, and to superficial cracks showed by OM and SEM micrographics.
S. Redjala N. Aı¨t Hocine M. Gratton INSA CVL, Univ. Tours, Univ. Orle´ans, LaMe´, 3 Rue de la Chocolaterie, BP 3410, 41034 Blois Cedex, France S. Redjala R. Ferhoum S. Azem (&) De´partement de Ge´nie Me´canique, Universite´ Mouloud Mammeri, BP 17, Tizi-Ouzou 15000, Algeria e-mail: [email protected] N. Poirot GREMAN, IUT de Blois, 15, rue de la chocolaterie, 41000 Blois, France
Keywords Polycarbonate Aging Ultraviolet Physical properties Mechanical properties
Introduction In comparison with metal and inorganic materials, polymers show some advantages, such as lightweight, high strength, anti-rust, and they are easily processable. However, these materials degrade under temperature variations, exposure to rain or sunlight and in the water or oils. Polymer materials are applicable for various purposes needing weight reduction, vibration isolating and damping, coating and covering, heat insulation. They are used in interior and exterior parts of automobile, railway vehicle, airplane, shipbuilding, commodities, housewares, pipelines for transportation of potable and wastewater, electrical appliances and toys. Polycarbonate (PC) is a polymer widely used in optical, medical, electronic and spatial applications, and for the preparation of nanotubes and nanowires [1–6]. Its high impact resistance makes it an important component in many devices, such as smartphones, tablets, computers. Because of its transparency, it is also used in windshields, roofs, greenhouses, security screens and in LED technology. Several studies have been done on polymers ultraviolet (UV) aging [7–12]. It was reported by Tse [7] that during UV irradiation, molecules are excited and processes of chain breakage and c
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