PHOTODEGRADATION OF POLYSTYRENE AND POLY(VINYL ACETATE) BLENDS .1. IRRADIATION OF PS PVAC BLENDS BY POLYCHROMATIC-LIGHT/

The photooxidative degradation of polystyrene, poly(vinyl acetate) and its blends under UV lamp (HPK) emitted highly energetic, polychromati c light (248-578 nm) and have been studied using mainly FT-IR and UV-V IS spectroscopy. It was found that the processes of photooxidation and photodegradation are accelerated in blends compared to pure PS and PV Ac. Moreover, higher efficiencies of photocrosslinking and chromophore s formation in all blends was observed. The composition of samples and their morphology has a big influence on the course of photooxidative degradation of PS/PVAc blends. The influence of the hydrogen bonds for med during photooxidation of blends on the improvement of miscibility of PS and PVAc was also discussed.