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Relationship between the Carbonyl Index (CI) and Fragmentation of Polyolefin Plastics during Aging
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Researchers studied how polyethylene and polypropylene plastic films break down in simulated marine and coastal environments over 12 months, tracking the relationship between surface oxidation and the generation of microplastic fragments. They found a strong correlation between the carbonyl index, a measure of chemical degradation, and the number of secondary particles produced. The study identifies specific degradation thresholds beyond which plastic films begin to fragment into microplastics at accelerated rates.
The durability of plastics in the marine environment has emerged as a crucial environmental issue. However, the contribution of several factors and the threshold point after which a plastic product generates secondary micro- and nanoplastics is still unclear. To investigate the interaction of environmental parameters with the physicochemical properties of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) films in the marine environment, polyolefin films were subjected to weathering in emulated coastal and marine environments for 12 months, focusing on the relationship between radiation load, alteration on the surface, and subsequent generation of microplastics (MPs). The weight average molecular weight (Mw) was found to be strongly correlated with the generated particles and the Feret diameter, implying the generation of secondary microplastics at decreased Mw. A significant and strong relationship between the carbonyl index (CI) and the Feret diameter for PP films weathered on beach sand was identified. This CI-fragmentation relationship involves three sequential stages and suggests that spontaneous fragmentation occurs at CI values above 0.7.
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