Weathering and Thermal Aging of Ultraviolet-Cured Polymer Films

Six different formulations were developed with an urethane acrylate oligomer (Ebcryl 264) in combination with a carboamide monomer (N-vinyl pyrrolidone) and a difunctional acrylated monomer (tripropylene glycol di-acrylate) in the presence of some filler (talc) and a plasticizer (diallyl phthalate). Thin polymer films prepared out of these formulations under ultraviolet radiation were characterized. The change of optical absorption of these films between 240 and 380 nm as a result of weathering and thermal aging was studied. The absorption spectra shifted toward higher wavelengths for thermal and weathering treatments. Loss of tensile strength (T s) and elongation (E b) was also investigated. The loss was observed to be dependent on the nature of formulations.