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Techniques and Mechanisms of Polymer Degradation

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Degradable Polymers

Abstract

The lifetime of a polymer is dependent not only on the weak links in the material but also on its surroundings. Degradation must be carefully monitored in order to evaluate the usefulness and service-life of polymers in different applications. As environmental concerns have increased, new demands are placed on the prediction of long-term properties of synthetic and natural polymers. When polymeric materials are exposed to a complex environment (e.g. outdoors) we may describe this as environmental degradation. Environmental degradation occurs due to a combination of factors of which photo-oxidation, thermo-oxidation, humidity, erosion by the weather and chemical action due to pollutants and micro-and macro-organisms are the most important. A combination of these may be cumulative, synergistic or antagonistic.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Polymer Technology, The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), SE-100 44, Stockholm, Sweden

    Sigbritt Karlsson & Ann-Christine Albertsson

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  1. Sigbritt Karlsson
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  2. Ann-Christine Albertsson
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Aston University, UK

    Gerald Scott (Professor Emeritus in Chemistry and Polymer Science) (Professor Emeritus in Chemistry and Polymer Science)

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© 2002 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Karlsson, S., Albertsson, AC. (2002). Techniques and Mechanisms of Polymer Degradation. In: Scott, G. (eds) Degradable Polymers. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1217-0_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1217-0_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-6091-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-1217-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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