Combined Impact of Ultraviolet and Chemical Fluids on High‐density Polyethylene Packaging Material

To investigate the ageing behviour of filled plastic containers outdoors, square cuts of the wall of two high-density polyethylene (HDPE) types were exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation at their front side and to specific liquid chemicals (de-ionized water, surfactant or White Spirit) at their back. The UV radiant exposure at the front side was 80?MJ/m(2). To compare the actions of the different exposures, separate dark backside fluid exposures were performed, in parallel. Besides, UV weathering was carried out until a UV radiant exposure of 325 MJ/m(2), being roughly comparable to outdoor exposure of one year in Northern Australia. An unpigmented HDPE included in the investigation gave no sufficient protection for the White Spirit. In addition, it showed clear degradation after several of these exposures. In combination with the White Spirit, an increase of carbonyl bonds was measured, presumably assignable to degradation products of the White Spirit. For a pigmented HDPE material, with the implemented combined exposures, no relevant damage was observed, within applied the exposure period. Copyright (C) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.