Study on the Mechanism of Molecular Weight Reduction of Polyethylene Based on Fe-Montmorillonite and Its Potential Application
The reactions occurring in the oxidative degradation phase during the photo-oxidative degradation of polyethylene (PE) are the factors leading to molecular weight reduction. However, the mechanism of molecular weight reduction before oxidative degradation has not been clarified. The present study ai...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/6/1429 |
| _version_ | 1797609366057123840 |
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| author | Zhiming Wang Huimin Chen Yunpeng Zhang Qingzhao Wang |
| author_facet | Zhiming Wang Huimin Chen Yunpeng Zhang Qingzhao Wang |
| author_sort | Zhiming Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The reactions occurring in the oxidative degradation phase during the photo-oxidative degradation of polyethylene (PE) are the factors leading to molecular weight reduction. However, the mechanism of molecular weight reduction before oxidative degradation has not been clarified. The present study aims to investigate the photodegradation of PE/Fe-montmorillonite (Fe-MMT) films, especially molecular weight change. The results show the rate of photo-oxidative degradation of each PE/Fe-MMT film is much faster than that of the pure linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) film. A decrease in the molecular weight of polyethylene was also found in the photodegradation phase. Based on this, it was found that the transfer and coupling of primary alkyl radicals originating from photoinitiation lead to a decrease in the molecular weight of polyethylene, and the kinetic results validate this new mechanism well. This new mechanism is an improvement on the existing mechanism of molecular weight reduction during the photo-oxidative degradation of PE. In addition, Fe-MMT can greatly accelerate the reduction of PE molecular weight into small oxygen-containing molecules as well as induce cracks on the surface of polyethylene films, all of which can accelerate the biodegradation process of polyethylene microplastics. The excellent photodegradation properties of PE/Fe-MMT films will be useful in the design of more environmentally friendly degradable polymers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:59:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a61edaa4ab7c4832aaa1f6bd7dba9e14 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:59:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-a61edaa4ab7c4832aaa1f6bd7dba9e142023-11-17T13:25:25ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602023-03-01156142910.3390/polym15061429Study on the Mechanism of Molecular Weight Reduction of Polyethylene Based on Fe-Montmorillonite and Its Potential ApplicationZhiming Wang0Huimin Chen1Yunpeng Zhang2Qingzhao Wang3College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, ChinaCollege of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, ChinaCollege of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, ChinaCollege of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, ChinaThe reactions occurring in the oxidative degradation phase during the photo-oxidative degradation of polyethylene (PE) are the factors leading to molecular weight reduction. However, the mechanism of molecular weight reduction before oxidative degradation has not been clarified. The present study aims to investigate the photodegradation of PE/Fe-montmorillonite (Fe-MMT) films, especially molecular weight change. The results show the rate of photo-oxidative degradation of each PE/Fe-MMT film is much faster than that of the pure linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) film. A decrease in the molecular weight of polyethylene was also found in the photodegradation phase. Based on this, it was found that the transfer and coupling of primary alkyl radicals originating from photoinitiation lead to a decrease in the molecular weight of polyethylene, and the kinetic results validate this new mechanism well. This new mechanism is an improvement on the existing mechanism of molecular weight reduction during the photo-oxidative degradation of PE. In addition, Fe-MMT can greatly accelerate the reduction of PE molecular weight into small oxygen-containing molecules as well as induce cracks on the surface of polyethylene films, all of which can accelerate the biodegradation process of polyethylene microplastics. The excellent photodegradation properties of PE/Fe-MMT films will be useful in the design of more environmentally friendly degradable polymers.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/6/1429Fe-MMTPE/Fe-MMT filmsphoto-oxidative degradationmechanism of molecular weight reductionmicroplastics |
| spellingShingle | Zhiming Wang Huimin Chen Yunpeng Zhang Qingzhao Wang Study on the Mechanism of Molecular Weight Reduction of Polyethylene Based on Fe-Montmorillonite and Its Potential Application Polymers Fe-MMT PE/Fe-MMT films photo-oxidative degradation mechanism of molecular weight reduction microplastics |
| title | Study on the Mechanism of Molecular Weight Reduction of Polyethylene Based on Fe-Montmorillonite and Its Potential Application |
| title_full | Study on the Mechanism of Molecular Weight Reduction of Polyethylene Based on Fe-Montmorillonite and Its Potential Application |
| title_fullStr | Study on the Mechanism of Molecular Weight Reduction of Polyethylene Based on Fe-Montmorillonite and Its Potential Application |
| title_full_unstemmed | Study on the Mechanism of Molecular Weight Reduction of Polyethylene Based on Fe-Montmorillonite and Its Potential Application |
| title_short | Study on the Mechanism of Molecular Weight Reduction of Polyethylene Based on Fe-Montmorillonite and Its Potential Application |
| title_sort | study on the mechanism of molecular weight reduction of polyethylene based on fe montmorillonite and its potential application |
| topic | Fe-MMT PE/Fe-MMT films photo-oxidative degradation mechanism of molecular weight reduction microplastics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/6/1429 |
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