The photo-oxidation of PVC-coated membrane material under tensile stress

The photo-oxidation of PVC-coated membrane material is studied by artificial accelerated weathering tests under two different tensile stresses (0 and 5% of the breaking strength). Yellowness index, surface morphology and tensile properties were tested under tensile stress. In addition, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry was used to analyse the degradation products of PVC-coated membrane material. The results showed that with the increase of cumulative UV radiation energy, the yellowness index and surface properties changed significantly, yet the tensile properties did not change significantly. This was mainly because of the fact that the photo-oxidation of the PVC-coated membrane material initially happened on the PVC coating, and then on the fabric. The results of the infrared spectroscopy analysis indicated that the photo-oxidation mechanism of the PVC-coated membrane material under different tensile stresses did not change. Finally, the change of the carbonyl index indicated that the stress accelerated the weathering of the PVC coating.