| Abstract: | Comparative investigations of PVC discs and foils concerning their thermal and photolytical behaviour showed an expiration of thermal degradation in the mass, whilst the photo processes injure only the surface of a sample. The investigations of polymer samples with different masses have demonstrated a constant rate of thermal dehydrochlorination in nitrogen, which was not influenced by the polymer mass. The degradation experiments in air resulted in an increased HCl-elimination with increasing degradation time. Oxidation reactions which occur in the presence of air cause an accelerated degradation and therefore the dehydrochlorination reaction is appointed as an additional reaction and not in competition with the HCl-elimination process. The influence of UV-light on PVC-discs and foils efforted a much higher dehydrochlorination rate; the energy of the rays is able to stimulate all types of chlorine atoms at the surface. The photolytical injury of the surface increased with degradation time resulting in a decrease of the degradation rate. The degraded and cross-linked material is insoluble in all solvents. |
