Temperate UV-Accelerated Weathering Cycle Combined with HT-GPC Analysis and Drop Point Testing for Determining the Environmental Instability of Polyethylene Films.

Polyethylene films are one of the most frequently used packaging materials in our society, due to their combination of strength and flexibility. An unintended consequence of this high use has been the ever-increasing accumulation of polyethylene films in the natural environment. Previous attempts to understand their deterioration have either focused on their durability using polymer analysis; or they have focused on changes occurring during outdoor exposure.

Correlation of a Temperate UV-Weathering Cycle to Outdoor Exposure for the Determination of the Environmental Instability of Polyethylene Films Using HT-GPC Analysis.

Accelerated UV-weathering cycles are predominately used for evaluating the durability of plastic materials, particularly polyethylene (PE) films. The point of failure for this testing is usually the loss of a physical property, such as the loss of tensile strength over time. For plastics designed to be instable under environmental conditions, the accelerated weathering cycles are yet to be defined and their correlation to outdoor exposure has yet to be made.