The photooxidation and photolysis of poly(butylene terephthalate)-fibr
e glass (PBT-FG) were studied, and a comparison with the photochemical
behaviour of PET was made. It was found that the same photoproducts w
ere formed in PET and PBT-FG, and that fibre glass had no influence on
the different routes involved in the mechanisms of photolysis and pho
tooxidation. The determination of the photoproduct concentration profi
les in PBT-FG and PET showed that photooxidation and photolysis were l
imited to a depth of 50 mu m in the irradiated surface. Moreover, it w
as found that the ratio between the rates of formation of the photopro
ducts in PBT-FG and PET was equal to the ratio between the contents of
PET in PBT-FG and pure PET.