Role of moisture in photo-ageing -macromolecular architecture evolution of acrylic-urethane network
Takato Ishida, Ryoma Kitagaki, Hideaki Hagihara, Yogarajah Elakneswaran
Abstract
In this work, the role of moisture in photo-ageing was discussed for the case of an acrylic-urethane network. Ageing behaviours were characterised by Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy, sol-gel analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. Two common features between dry and wet photo-ageing, namely, decrease in the mean free volume and increase in the glass transition temperature were observed as photo-oxidation progressed. The characteristics of the final internal structure of the wet photo-aged sample differed from those of the dry photo-aged sample. Although the dry photo-aged samples suggested network densification due to extensive crosslinking formation, wet photo-ageing led to an inhomogeneous structure wherein the average molar mass between crosslinks (at a scale of several nanometres) increased and some domains crosslinked at the sub-nanoscale. Considering the physical (plasticisation) and chemical (hydrolysis) effects induced by water, a possible mechanism for the evolution of the macromolecular architecture was proposed for photo-ageing in dry and wet environments.