Changes in carbonyl index and average molecular weight on embrittlement of enhanced-photodegradable polyethylenes

Weathering behavior of two types of enhanced-photodegradable polyethylenes was studied using FTIR spectroscopy, tensile property changes, and gel-permeation chromatography to monitor structural changes accompanying photodegradation. Changes in elongation at break and carbonyl index during degradation showed a strong correlation with the average molecular weight of the polymers. At the point of embrittlement, the highest extent of degradation measured using tensile properties, the number-average molecular weights for both polymers were in the 10⁴ g/mol range. Facile biodegradation is not expected of polyethylenes of this degree of polymerization.