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Photodegradation behavior of different polyurethane: A comparison study of foam and leather
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Polyurethane plastics, used in everything from furniture foam to synthetic leather, can break down under sunlight into microplastics and dissolved chemicals — including from carcinogenic starting materials. This study compared how foam-based and leather-based polyurethanes degrade under UV light, finding that foam degraded faster and released more nanoscale plastic particles and dissolved organic matter. Understanding these differences matters because it affects how toxic the resulting microplastics are, and which polyurethane products pose the greatest risks as they age in the environment.
Polyurethane (PU) is a type of widely used plastics. However, its raw materials, diisocyanates, are highly carcinogenic, rendering potential hazard of released PU microplastics (MPs) and leachates throughout its lifecycle. This study used foam polyurethane (PU-S) and leather polyurethane (PU-L) as representatives of polyether-based (EPU) and polyester-based (SPU) polyurethanes, respectively, to investigate the photodegradation behavior of PU and the impact of soft segment composition on its overall degradation process. A series of physical and chemical characterizations demonstrated that PU-S degraded faster than PU-L, showing a greater propensity for further fragmentation and aging. Moreover, after 300 h aging, the cumulative total organic carbon (TOC) release of PU-S exceeded that of PU-L by 58.9 ± 2.52 mg/g, which might be attributed to the decarboxylation reaction in the polyester structure of PU-L that imparted the resistance of PU to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and resulted in delayed aging characteristics. Two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy revealed differences in functional group changes, elucidating the disparities in aging reaction procedure between PU-S and PU-L. Additionally, PU-S released more nanoscale plastic particles and dissolved organic matter (DOM) than PU-L. These findings provide insights into the photodegradation of non-olefinic MPs and offer a theoretical basis for understanding and mitigating PU MPs pollution.
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Formation of Nano- and Microplastics and Dissolved Chemicals During Photodegradation of Polyester Base Fabrics with Polyurethane Coating
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Researchers investigated the photodegradation of polyester fabrics with polyurethane coating, a common composite material in synthetic leather, to understand microplastic and chemical release. The study found that the PU coating delayed but did not prevent degradation, with both microplastic fibers and particles being released along with dissolved chemicals, highlighting the environmental risks of composite plastic materials.
Releases of microplastics and chemicals from nonwoven polyester fabric-based polyurethane synthetic leather by photoaging
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Researchers compared microplastic fiber release and chemical transformation from polyurethane-coated synthetic leather and uncoated nonwoven PET fabric under UV photoaging, finding that the PU coating reduced fiber release but increased the degree of chemical oxidation. Photoaging of synthetic leather products produces microplastic fibers and chemical breakdown products that enter aquatic environments.
Understanding visible light and microbe-driven degradation mechanisms of polyurethane plastics: Pathways, property changes, and product analysis
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Researchers found that polyurethane plastics break down in water through a combination of microbial action and light exposure, producing secondary microplastics as they degrade. This study reveals a previously underappreciated source of microplastic pollution, since polyurethane is widely used in coatings, foams, and other products that often end up in waterways.
Photochemical weathering of polyurethane microplastics produced complex and dynamic mixtures of dissolved organic chemicals
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Researchers studied how sunlight breaks down polyurethane microplastics in ocean surface waters and what chemical byproducts are released. The study found that photochemical weathering produced complex and constantly changing mixtures of dissolved organic chemicals, with different polyurethane types releasing different compounds. The findings reveal that while sunlight helps degrade microplastics, the resulting chemical cocktails may themselves pose environmental risks.
Photodegradation Controls of Potential Toxicity of Secondary Sunscreen-Derived Microplastics and Associated Leachates
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Researchers studied how sunlight breaks down microplastics from sunscreen products and whether this makes them more or less toxic. They found that sunlight aging caused chemical changes on the plastic surfaces and released harmful compounds into the water, increasing toxicity to aquatic organisms. This is relevant because sunscreen microplastics are commonly washed into oceans and lakes, where sun exposure could make them more dangerous over time.
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