Photodegradation of Low Density Polyethylene using CaO Nanoparticles as a Catalyst

The photodegradation of low density polyethylene (LDPE) using CaO nanoparticles as a catalyst was carried out using sun light as a source. After exposure period, morphology as well as thermal properties of the specimen was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and DSC. Before and after photodegradation, SEM results showed the Low density polyethylene to be much more prone to cracking into small snippet which indicated a rise in crystallinity with different amount of CaO nanoparticles as a catalyst. The DSC result confirmed the remarkable influence of photodegradation on degree of crystallinity (XC %), fusion enthalpy (ΔΗ Jg−1) and melting temperature (Tm) of LDPE. Infrared (FTIR) spectrometry has demonstrated all functional groups, which were obtained after photodegradation. Results showed that LDPE was degraded successfully by using CaO nanopartilces during photodegradation and obtained different functional groups during chain scission.