Encyclopedia of Polymer Degradation

Encyclopedia of Polymer Degradation

Author: George Wypych
ISBN 978-1-77467-048-4

Hard copy
Pages 240+viii
Published: Jan 2025

$350.00

The Encyclopedia takes a different approach to analyzing the effects of degradants on the degradation of materials as compared to the classical methods commonly used in weathering studies. Here are the key points:

Limitations of Typical Weathering Studies: Conventional weathering studies often take place in natural outdoor environments where weathering parameters are not controlled. This lack of control makes it difficult to separate and understand the individual effects of different degradants on the material. Moreover, exposure sites may be in locations that do not fully represent real-life performance (e.g., no exposure to certain degradants found in urban environments). The resulting sample condition after exposure depends on the combined effects of multiple degradants, and it is hard to repeat or precisely measure all these effects. Also, in many cases, samples are too contaminated to be studied by instrumental methods.

Challenges in Laboratory Weathering Studies: Weathering studies conducted in laboratory equipment often control specific factors such as UV energy, humidity, artificial rain, and temperature during exposure. However, the studied samples are still exposed to a combination of degradants, making it challenging to isolate the partial effects of individual degradants. The typical approach involves grading damage vs. duration and analyzing composition changes vs. duration of exposure, which does not provide a complete understanding of the mechanisms and interactions among different degradants.

Importance of Understanding Degradation Mechanisms: To effectively use different polymeric materials, it is essential to understand the specific mechanisms caused by different degradants. This understanding permits the selection of the most resistant materials for specific applications and the development of effective stabilization strategies to protect materials against degradation. Degradation and stabilization should be described through chemical equations to identify the specific reactions involved and their sequence.

Encyclopedia's Approach: The book aims to compile research results for the most important and commonly used polymers. The focus is on identifying the unitary degradative chemical reactions, including the fate of products resulting from primary degradation, which can influence further degradation mechanisms and rates. Based on these data, the book proposes potential mechanisms of reactions (chemical descriptions of the sequence of events) for each degradation mode.

Transition to Knowledge-Based Utilization: While complete answers may be difficult to provide, the book recognizes the need to start with available data. By shifting from comparative methods to knowledge-based utilization of existing resources, the book aims to facilitate more effective prevention of waste and environmental pollution caused by material failures.

In summary, the book aims to provide a more comprehensive and mechanistic understanding of material degradation caused by various degradants, helping researchers and professionals select suitable materials and develop effective strategies to prevent degradation and environmental pollution.



1          Introduction. Outdoor stability of materials (life expectance)
2          Testing according to standards. Methods of exposure
3          Testing according to standards. Stability measures
4          Real-life material damage. Typical examples
5          Examples of a combination of degradants for some real materials (encountered degrading
            environments, typical polymers used for production, and examples of performance)
5.1       Adhesives and sealants
5.2       Aerospace
5.3       Automotive coatings
5.4       Composites
5.5       Geosynthetics
5.6       Paints and coatings
5.7       Roofing
5.8       Solar cells and collectors
5.9       Textiles
5.10      Wood
6          Polymer degradation. Available data (important data characterizing each polymer, reactions of degradation caused by any degradant known for this particular polymer, sequence of events which is known to be part of degradation mechanism for each degradant affecting polymer, and the major results illustrating mechanisms of degradation, products of degradation, and results of testing.)
6.1       Acrylic resins
6.2       Cellulose 
6.3       Epoxy resins
6.4       Ethylene-propylene diene monomer, EPDM
6.5       Fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer, FEP
6.6       Polybutadiene
6.7       Polycarbonate
6.8       Polydimethylsiloxane
6.9       Polyethylene
6.10     Poly(ethylene terephthalate)
6.11     Poly(lactic acid)
6.12     Polymethylmethacrylate
6.13     Polyoxymethylene
6.14     Polypropylene
6.15     Polystyrene
6.16     Polytetrafluorethylene
6.17     Polyurethane
6.18     Polyvinylchloride
6.19     Poly(vinylidene chloride)
6.20     Rubber
7          General testing requirements
7.1       What to test
7.2       Methods of study of deterioration rate

George Wypych has PhD Eng. The professional expertise includes university teaching (full professor) and research & development (university and corporate). He has published 48 books (PVC Plastisols, Wroclaw University Press; Polyvinylchloride Degradation, Elsevier; Polyvinylchloride Stabilization, Elsevier; Polymer Modified Textile Materials, Wiley & Sons; Handbook of Material Weathering, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th Edition, ChemTec Publishing; Handbook of Fillers, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Edition, ChemTec Publishing; Recycling of PVC, ChemTec Publishing; Weathering of Plastics. Testing to Mirror Real Life Performance, Plastics Design Library, Handbook of Solvents, Vol. 1. Properties 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Edition, ChemTec Publishing, Handbook of Solvents, Vol. 2. Health & Environment 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Edition, ChemTec Publishing, Handbook of Plasticizers, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Edition, ChemTec Publishing, Handbook of Antistatics, 1st and 2nd Edition, ChemTec Publishing, Databook of Antistatics, 1st and 2nd Edition, ChemTec Publishing, Handbook of Antiblocking, Release and Slip Additives, 1st , 2nd and 3rd Edition, ChemTec Publishing, Industrial Solvents in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology (two editions), John Wiley & Sons, PVC Degradation & Stabilization, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Editions, ChemTec Publishing, The PVC Formulary, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Editions, ChemTec Publishing, Handbook of Material Biodegradation, Biodeterioration, and Biostabilization, 1st and 2nd Editions, ChemTec Publishing, Handbook of UV Degradation and Stabilization, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Editions, ChemTec Publishing, Handbook of Polymers, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Editions, ChemTec Publishing, Atlas of Material Damage, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Editions, ChemTec Publishing, Handbook of Odors in Plastic Materials, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Editions, ChemTec Publishing, Databook of Solvents (two editions), ChemTec Publishing, Databook of Blowing and Auxiliary Agents, ChemTec Publishing, Handbook of Foaming and Blowing Agents (two editions), ChemTec Publishing, Databook of Green Solvents, ChemTec Publishing (two editions), Self-healing Products (two editions), ChemTec Publishing, Handbook of Adhesion Promoters (two editions), ChemTec Publishing, Databook of Surface Modification Additives (two editions), ChemTec Publishing, Handbook of Surface Improvement and Modification (two editions), ChemTec Publishing, Graphene – Important Results and Applications, ChemTec Publishing, Handbook of Curatives and Crosslinkers, ChemTec Publishing, Chain Mobility and Progress in Medicine, Pharmaceutical, Polymer Science and Technology, Impact of Award, ChemTec Publishing, Databook of Antioxidants, ChemTec Publishing, Handbook of Antioxidants, ChemTec Publishing, Databook of UV Stabilizers (two Editions), ChemTec Publishing, Databook of Flame Retardants, ChemTec Publishing, Databook of Nucleating Agents, ChemTec Publishing, Handbook of Flame Retardants, ChemTec Publishing, Handbook of Nucleating Agents, ChemTec Publishing, Handbook of Polymers in Electronics, ChemTec Publishing, Databook of Impact Modifiers, ChemTec Publishing, Databook of Rheological Additives, ChemTec Publishing, Handbook of Impact Modifiers, ChemTec Publishing, Handbook of Rheological Additives, ChemTec Publishing, Databook of Polymer Processing Additives, ChemTec Publishing, Handbook of Polymer Processing Additives, ChemTec Publishing, Functional Fillers (two editions), 2 databases (Solvents Database, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Edition and Database of Antistatics 1st and 2nd Edition, both by ChemTec Publishing), and 42 scientific papers and obtained 16 patents. He specializes in PVC, polymer additives, material durability, and the development of sealants and coatings. He was included in the Dictionary of International Biography, Who's Who in Plastics and Polymers, and Who's Who in Engineering, and was selected International Man of the Year 1996-1997 in recognition of services to education.