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Sunlight and marine weathering of poly(oxymethylene): Evolution of the physico-chemical properties
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Researchers subjected the engineering polymer poly(oxymethylene) to sunlight and simulated marine weathering conditions and tracked changes in its physico-chemical properties over time, studying how this less-studied plastic degrades and generates microplastic particles in environmental settings.
Plastic pollution is now an environmental problem that affects all environmental compartments. The study of plastic degradation in terrestrial, marine and other freshwater environments is emerging. Research is mainly focused on plastic fragmentation into microplastics. In this contribution, an engineering polymer, poly(oxymethylene) (POM), was studied under different weathering conditions using physico-chemical characterization techniques. A POM homopolymer and a POM copolymer were characterized by electron microscopy, tensile tests, DSC, infrared spectroscopy and rheometry tests after climatic and marine weathering or artificial UV/water spray cycles. Natural climatic conditions were the most favorable for POM degradation, especially under solar UV, as evidenced by the strong fragmentation into microplastics when subjected to artificial UV cycles. The evolution of properties with exposure time was found to be non-linear under natural conditions, in contrast to artificial conditions. Two main stages of degradation were evidenced by the correlation between strain at break and carbonyl indices.
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Cracking and Photo-Oxidation of Polyoxymethylene Degraded in Terrestrial and Simulated Marine Environments
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Researchers exposed small polyoxymethylene pellets to terrestrial and simulated marine environments over three years, documenting surface cracking, photo-oxidation, and mass and diameter reductions of approximately 10% and 40% respectively along with generation of 100-300 micrometer fragments. UV irradiation caused smaller changes than combined heat and light exposure, as UV could not penetrate the particle interior.
Experimental weathering of microplastic under simulated environmental conditions - Method development and characterization of pristine, photodegraded and mechanically weathered microplastic
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Polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics of two sizes were weathered under simulated ocean surface and intertidal conditions for 80 days to study physical and chemical degradation. Photodegradation was found to cause significant surface oxidation and embrittlement, with smaller particles and intertidal exposure conditions producing faster weathering.
Linking UV aging of polymers and microplastics formation: An assessment employing various characterization techniques
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Researchers examined the link between UV aging of plastic polymers and the generation of microplastics in marine environments, using environmental assessment tools to model the process. The study clarifies how photodegradation rates and polymer type influence the rate and quantity of microplastic formation.
Influence of weathering on the microplastics formation in the environment
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Researchers simulated UV weathering of polypropylene plastic and tracked how exposure progressively degraded the polymer, causing surface cracking and changes in mechanical properties that facilitate breakdown into microplastics. The results help explain how environmental weathering of plastic waste accelerates microplastic formation.
Simulated experimental investigation of microplastic weathering in marine environment
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Researchers simulated microplastic weathering under marine conditions, finding that exposure to UV light, saltwater, and mechanical abrasion progressively degraded plastic surfaces, increased surface roughness, and enhanced the adsorption capacity of contaminants onto microplastic particles.
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