Dependence of the photodegradation rate on the crystalline portion of PE films obtained through in situ polymerization in the presence of TiO2 nanospheres, nanoribbons and microspheres

In this work, we present the results obtained from the synthesis and photodegradation experiments of polyethylene films embedded with TiO2 nanospheres, nanoribbons and microspheres. Photodegradation experiments were carried out under simulated sunlight and monitored by infrared spectroscopy and CO2 evolution monitored by gas chromatography experiments. According to the results, due to the photocatalytic nature of TiO2, the formation of radicals HO, O2−, HO2 resulted in the oxidative degradation of the chains, which occurs preferentially at the amorphous phase of PE, increasing the crystalline portion of the polymer.