Accelerated weathering-induced degradation of unprotected multilayer polyethylene slabs. II

The effect of photodegradation on the properties of multilayer polyethylene slabs was evaluated. It was found that photodegradation causes an increase in the degree of crystallinity accompanied by an increase in the elastic modulus and a decrease in elongation and oxygen permeability. It was shown that oxygen and not UV light is the controlling factor in the photodegradation process. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.