Study on photodegradation of injection-moulded β-polypropylenes

The effects of UV irradiation on P-nucleated injection-moulded polypropylenes (beta-iPP) have been Studied at several structural levels. Commercially available isotactic polypropylene was modified by 0.03 wt.% beta-nuclcating agent based on N,N'-dicyclohexylnaphtlialene-2,6-dicarboxamide. beta-iPP specimens were injection-moulded using a processing set-LIP in which only mould temperature was varied. It was found that specimens consisted of a skin-core structure, which was strongly influenced by varying mould temperatures. The structural development consequently affected the specimen degradability as shown by wide-angle X-ray scattering, light microscopy and micro-infrared microscopy. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.