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Influence of Ageing on Optical, Mechanical, and Thermal Properties of Agricultural Films
Summary
Researchers compared the aging properties of three types of agricultural plastic films used as greenhouse coverings when exposed to simulated weathering conditions. They found that while all films showed some property degradation after accelerated aging, none deteriorated to a degree that would compromise their function as greenhouse covers. The study provides practical data for selecting durable agricultural films suited to specific climate conditions.
Plastic films utilized as greenhouse coverings play a vital role in safeguarding plantations from diverse weather conditions like sunlight, rain, hail, and wind. It is essential for these films to preserve their properties even after extended exposure to sunlight and water, while also maintaining transparency to support the unhindered growth of plants. The purpose of the study was to compare the properties of three types of plastic films: low density polyethylene diffuse film, low density polyethylene clear film, and ethylene tetrafluoroethylene film, before and after their ageing in weather test chamber with xenon-arc light in the presence of moisture. Two distinct types of PE films were chosen based on their suitability for specific regions in Croatia, whereas ETFE film was chosen as a potential new material that is gaining popularity across various industries, including agriculture. The properties investigated were tensile properties, transmittance by spectral analysis, and viscoelastic properties by dynamic mechanical analysis. Also, untreated films and the ones exposed to artificial ageing were compared by means of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The administered tests revealed a certain level of property degradation due to ageing in all three films. However, none of the films showed a substantial level of deterioration, indicating their suitability as greenhouse coverings.