The effect of UV radiation on the thermal degradation of cellulose triacetate

The effect of UV radiation on the thermal degradation of cellulose triaceta te (CTA) has been investigated. Simultaneous thermogravimetric analysis (TG A) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) have been performed on CTA s amples of 0.25 mm thickness. These samples were exposed to different energy fluences of UV in the range 2.3-113 kJ/cm(2). The specific heat capacity, C-p, has been evaluated for unexposed and exposed CTA samples using DSC met hod. The results indicate that the transition temperatures, onset temperatu res of evaporation, specific heat capacity and the thermal activation energ y of decomposition, E-a are affected by the UV energy fluence owing to the simultaneous processes of degradation and crosslinking. (C) 1999 Elsevier S cience Ltd. All rights reserved.