Climatic tests of polyethylene based composite materials containing various types of stabilizers

Abstract

The article substantiates the need for climate testing of polymeric materials, since environmental factors are crucial in predicting the service life, reliability and durability of products. It is shown that one of the most aggressive factors causing premature failure of products made of polymer materials is UV radiation, under the influence of which irreversible chemical changes begin to occur in the material. To prevent the occurrence of radical chain reactions, special functional additives are used, the so-called stabilizers. To conduct complex climate studies, composite materials based on polyethylene of grade 273-83 with the addition of stabilizing additives СО3, СО4 and Stafen were selected as objects of study. These stabilizers were developed at the Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Science. The composition of the composites was chosen based on the study of the mechanical properties of composites of various compositions. Comprehensive climate studies have shown that one of the most sensitive characteristics to the effects of natural climatic factors is elongation at break. Exposure of composites for 9–12 months leads to embrittlement of the studied materials and loss of their performance, which is structurally reflected in the transformation of the supramolecular structure with the formation of larger and more heterogeneous formations. It was found that stabilizers СО3 and СО4 are most effective for protecting unpainted polyethylene products from UV radiation. Utilizing of CO3 and CO4 stabilizers allows to extend the life of the material under continuous exposure to natural climatic factors of the region for 3 or more months. Increasing the concentration of stabilizing additives can provide an additional increase in reliability and durability.