Impact of Combined Thermo- and Photo-Oxidation on the Physicochemical Properties of Oxo-Biodegradable Low-Density Polyethylene Films.

This research addresses the study of the combined effect of two abiotic treatments, a thermo-oxidative treatment followed by a photo-oxidative treatment with ultraviolet light, on the physicochemical properties of commercially available low-density polyethylene films with an oxo-degradant additive (OXOLDPE) and without (LDPE). The change in the oxidized film properties was characterized using FTIR, XRD, TGA, GPC, and SEM analytical techniques. The results indicated that the increment in carbonyl index (CI) and crystallinity percentage (X) was higher for those films that received the combined oxidative treatments compared with those that received only one of them, thermo- or photo-oxidative treatment.