| Abstract: | When poly(methyl methacrylate) films containing UV absorbers are exposed to UV light, the absorbers undergo photodegradation resulting in loss of absorbance. If the data extend for less than one half-life, both zero and first order kinetic treatment give fairly linear fits, but the rate constants so derived are dependent on the initial absorbance of the films. When the zero order rate constants are corrected to account for the higher rate of degradation near the surface compared with the bulk that occurs in highly absorbing films, consistent “infinite absorption” zero order rate constants are derived. The inhomogeneous degradation is due to only the highly absorbed, higher energy light contributing significantly to the degradation. For the benzophenone and benzotriazole classes of absorber, at least 65% of the degradation is due to light with wavelengths < 350 nm. Structural variations generally caused only small differences in the rates of degradation of these classes of absorbers unless the substitutions disrupted the intramolecular hydrogen bonds that are critical for stability. If the hydrogen bond is weakened, the absorber is less stable. |
