POLYMERS FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, vol.16, no.1, pp.61-66, 2005 (SCI-Expanded)
In this comparative study, the effect of carbon black (CB) on the UV aging characteristics of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) was investigated. EVA, containing 13% vinyl acetate (VA), and poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate)/carbon black mixture (EVA/CB), containing 13% VA and 1% CB, were aged by means of UV light with a wavelength in the vicinity of 259nm, in air, up to 400hr. Sol-gel analyses were made to determine the percentage gelation of both virgin and aged samples. FT-IR measurements were performed to follow the chemical changes which took place in the samples during aging. Dynamic and isothermal thermogravimetry studies were performed for determination of the thermal stabilities of virgin and aged samples.