Environmental Aging of Polymer Nanocomposites and their Characterization

In this study, different polymer nanocomposites were used and aged in an accelerated environmental aging chamber, which can simulate different weather conditions. During the aging, physicochemical properties of the polymer nanocomposites were characterized with different techniques of scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry Analysis. Also, the release of nano-additives and microplastics was investigated with transmission electron microscopy. The results of the environmental aging of the polymer nanocomposites and their characterization along with the release of nano-additives and microplastics from the polymer nanocomposites by the aging will be presented and discussed in detail.