{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.036284470246734396, 'fraction_numerical': 0.008708272859216255, 'mean_word_length': 5.44392523364486, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Titanium dioxide-benzophenone hybrid as an effective catalyst for enhanced photochemical degradation of low density polyethylene

Abstract In this study, a hybrid of titanium dioxide, benzophenone and ethylene vinyl acetate (TiO2-BP-EVA) was used as a novel catalyst to accelerate photo-oxidization reaction of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film under ambient conditions. The degradation of the LDPE films (thickness of ~25 μm) containing different catalyst concentrations were successfully investigated by different techniques, such as Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and mechanical tests. The results showed that the use of catalyst in which TiO2-BP content (1/3 w/w) is 0.5 phr (parts per hundred resin) and EVA content is 4.5 phr in a LDPE film provided the best degradation rate. The carbonyl index of the polymer film achieved the highest value without an equilibrium stage. Besides, the carbon-carbon backbone of the polymer was completely broken down consistent with the deformation of the surface. In addition, the mechanical properties impressively dropped after 3 months’ exposure. The obtained results imply that the TiO2-BP-EVA compound can be considered as an efficient catalyst for the photodegradation of LDPE polymer.