IN-LINE MONITORING OF THE PHOTOOXIDATION BEHAVIOUR OF PP/CLAY NANOCOMPOSITES THROUGH CREEP MEASUREMENTS

Abstract

The photooxidation of polymer systems is usually investigated by monitoring the change of chemical and molecular structure, morphology and macroscopic after a given period of UV exposition. In a previous paper, La Mantia et al. [1] presented a new apparatus that is able to monitor during the accelerated weathering the effect of the photooxidation on a polymer sample subjected not only to temperature, humidity and UV irradiation, but also to a mechanical stress, fully simulating real working conditions for plastic products. In this work, a polypropylene/organomodified clay nanocomposite has been subjects to the same test and the results compared with those obtained for the pure matrix.