The Determination of the Reaction Rates, Water Vapor Permeability, and Activation Energy for Thermal Oxidation of LDPE Films
- University of Minnesota, Duluth
- ORNL
To understand the mechanism of degradation of plastics under environmental degradation, thermal oxidation of LDPE thin film from a single manufacturer was studied. Oxidation was carried out in a pressure vessel with control at four temperatures( 22,50,70 and 80°C and at 30 and 50psi oxygen pressures. Cup tests were done to determine the permeability of water vapor across the LDPE film at 60, 70, and 90°C. The extent of oxidation was monitored using ATR-FTIR and the carbonyl content calculated from the spectra. Bands centered at 1711 and 1735 cm-1 was determined resulted from the carbonyl stretches. A broad band at 3100-3600cm-1 is attributed to O-H stretching and the fingerprint region (<1400 cm-1) shows evidence of C-O stretches. The permeability and carbonyl content to water vapor increased with temperature, oxidation time, and oxygen pressure. We concluded the observed increase to the result of the disruption of the semi-crystalline structure of the film to produce amorphous regions within which the water vapor is more permeable. This study was a step in the direction for determining a reliable model for the degradation and eventual failure of medium-level power cables in nuclear power plants (NPPs).
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-00OR22725
- OSTI ID:
- 1607165
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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