Photodegradation Mechanisms on Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)

Photodegradation of PCL was performed exposing injected specimens to ultraviolet radiation (UV-B) up to 9 weeks. Photodegradated PCL specimens were tested by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), mechanical properties, Optical Microscopy (MO) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).Upon exposure decrease in elongation at break and increase of elastic modulus were verified, higher degree of crystallinity was observed for longer exposure what can be due to the chemi-crystallization mechanism. From IR spectra new carbonyl group (C=O) peaks were observed. Presence of micro cracks on specimens’ surface was identified by MO. From morphological analyses is suggested that the photodegradation in PCL takes place by bulk erosion mechanism.