The ultraviolet activation spectrum of polycarbonate

摘要

AbstractPrevious work has shown that a polymeric phenyl salicylate and a polymeric dihydroxybenzophenone are formed during the irradiation of polycarbonate with nonspectrally dispersed ultraviolet light. In the present studies the photodegradation of polycarbonate film has been investigated as a function of irradiating wavelength using spectrally dispersed light from a xenon are between 2300 and 6300 Å. Maximum changes in absorbance at 3200, 3600, and 4000 Å were induced in the sample by irradiating wavelengths between 2800 and 2900 Å. The wavelength sensitivity of an extruded sample of polycarbonate is compared with results obtained for a solution‐cast thin film of the material. The results of the present study support the stepwise photodegradation mechanism of polycarbonate previously reported and suggest the possibility of an additional photodegradation pro