Comparative effect of NZVI and Ca- stearate on Thermal- and photo-degradation of LDPE/EVA mulching films by FTIR spectrometry

Blend of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) containing calcium stearateand Nanoscale zero valent iron (NZVI) as pro-oxidant and catalyst, respectively has been studied. Photo and thermaldegradation of the LDPE/EVA composite films were carried out under ambient conditions, ultraviolet (UV) lightirradiation and an air-oven aging tests (at 70°C) for extended time periods. Degraded LDPE/EVA films were examinedby Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. FTIR results have shown that the photo degradation of nanocompositeis influenced significantly by both of pro-oxidant and nano particle. Carbonyl index for photo degradated film containingstearates, NZVI or both of them are increased, and also, carbonyl index of the thermal degradated nanocompositecontaining calcium stearate increases, but film containing NZVI did not more change. It means, in contrast by calciumstearate, NZVI is not suitable for thermal degradation PE/EVA mulching films.

Keywords:

Low density polyethylene (LDPE) , Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) , Nanoscale zero valent iron(NZVI) , Pro-oxidant , Degradation