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Application of Metal Oxides Nanoparticles to Enhance Ultraviolet Light Resistance of Polyvinyl Chloride Films
Summary
Metal oxide nanoparticles were applied to plastic films to investigate whether they could accelerate UV-driven degradation in environmental conditions. The nanoparticles acted as photocatalysts, generating reactive oxygen species under UV light that broke down polymer chains faster than UV exposure alone. This approach offers a potential strategy for reducing the persistence of plastic waste in outdoor environments.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) films were chemically modified by including organic groups, amino group of ethylenediamine (en), and furtherly treated with aromatic aldehyde. The modification process included synthesizing the films by casting utilizing tetrahydrofuran (THF) as the solvent. The films were enriched with five metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs), specifically: TiO2, Co2O3, Cr2O3, NiO and CuO, in order to enhance their resistance to photodegradation. The films were subjected to UV light. The resulting damage was assessed both analytically and morphologically. The methods used for examination of the chemical structure comprised FT-IR, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR spectroscopies. SEM and AFM were utilized to test the morphology of polymeric films. The efficiency of the modified PVC films to resist UV light was assessed by measuring the roughness factor (Rq) of the irradiated PVC films. The incorporation of NPs into the modified PVC resulted in films with high resistance to UV light, as confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy and weight loss measurement. The film made from modified PVC/Schiff base CuO NPs showed superior resistance to photo-degradation, as evidenced by the findings obtained from FT-IR spectra, surface morphological analysis, and weight loss.