Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
In situ Photo-rheology Monitors Viscoelastic Changes in Photo-responsive Polymer Networks
Published on: June 20, 2025
In situ kinetics study of the accelerated aging of poly(ethylene oxide) using PhotoDSC
F Fraisse1, S Morlat-Thérias, J-L Gardette
1Laboratoire de Photochimie Moléculaire et Macromoléculaire, UMR CNRS 6505, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand et Université Blaise Pascal, 24 Avenue des Landais, 63174 Aubière Cedex, France.
Abstract:
PhotoDSC has been applied to follow the global kinetics of chain scissions resulting from the UV light irradiation or from the thermal degradation of a high molecular weight PEO (4 x 10(6) g x mol(-1)). Infrared spectroscopy, XRD measurements and rheology experiments were performed to evidence the occurrence of chain scissions. Melting energy was used as a tool to quantify the extent of the degradation. It was found that the chain scissions reaction follows a first-order kinetic law for both photo and thermal degradation. The activation energies were found identical in both cases (41 kJ x mol(-1)), whereas the degradation rate was higher in the case of UV irradiation than in the case of thermoageing.
