Roles of anatase and rutile TiO2 nanoparticles in photooxidation of polyurethane

Photooxidation of polyurethane (PU) and its composites with anatase and rutile titanium dioxide nanoparticles induced by ultraviolet exposure was investigated in this work. Anatase was found to be a photosensitiser that accelerates photooxidation of PU, while rutile acted as an effective stabilizer retarding photooxidation of PU. With a rise in the TiO2 nanoparticle content, both photosensitivity of PU/anatase TiO2 nanocomposite and photostability of PU/rutile TiO2 nanocomposite increase. The photocatalytic degradation mechanism of PU and its nanocomposites are briefly discussed. The results are believed to facilitate proper application of TiO2 nanoparticles for different purposes.