Explanation:
Polymer degradation is a change in the properties of the polymer – such as tensile strength, color, shape, molecular weight – or of a polymer-based product under the influence of one or more environmental factors, such as heat, light, chemicals, or any other applied force.
- Photoinduced degradation: Electromagnetic waves with the energy of visible light or higher, such as ultraviolet light, X-rays and gamma rays are usually involved in such reactions.
- Thermal degradation: Chain-growth polymers can be degraded by thermolysis at high temperatures to give monomers, oils, gases and water. This kind of degradation can happen by pyrolysis, hydrogenation or gasification:
- Chemical degradation: it can happen through many mechanism such as oxidation, ozone cracking, galvanic actior or Chlorine-induced cracking
- Biological degradation: by microorganisms to give lower molecular weight molecules
In the case of ceramics, environmental factors are the major cause. There are several ways in which ceramics break down physically and chemically
- Physical degrdation: from mishandling, impacts and abrasion, frost and mold growth
- Chemical degradation: because of water and soluble salts
I hope you find this information useful and interesting! Good luck!
