Photochemical properties of polyethylene modified by low-molecular organic compounds

Commercial polyethylene (LDPE) was physically modified by low-molecular organic compounds for acceleration of photodegradation. Two ketones (acetophenone, benzophenone) and two aromatic chloro-derivatives (benzyl chloride and I-chloromethyl naphthalene) in the same amounts (I %wt) were used for PE modification. The influence of UV irradiation on thin films of doped PE was studied using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and UV-vis spectroscopy Much higher yields of photoprocesses in polyethylene (PE) containing modifiers were confirmed. Effectiveness of modifier depends on chemical structure and absorption of incident UV-radiation. The possibility of obtaining of degradable packaging films based on modified PE is suggested.