Discoloration Analysis of Polyethylene Microspheres during Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation – UVC

Abstract

The discoloration effect during the photo-oxidation process in unstabilized organic polymers is derived from photochemical reactions from the interaction between oxygen and ultraviolet radiation (UV) in the material. Samples of transparent polyethylene microspheres were exposed to ultraviolet radiation at a wavelength of 253.7 nm for periods of up to 480 hours. Color changes from transparent to bleached were observed after 360 hours. This analysis demonstrated that the photochemical effect reported in the literature effectively occurs within these experimental parameters and may aid in the degradation of polyethylene microplastics in microsphere formats.