TY - JOUR A1 - Rhiem, S. A1 - Barthel, Anne-Kathrin A1 - Meyer-Plath, A. A1 - Hennig, M. P. A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Sturm, Heinz A1 - Schäffer, A. A1 - Maes, H. M. T1 - Release of 14C-labelled carbon nanotubes from polycarbonate composites N2 - Waste disposal of carbon nanotube (CNT) containing products is expected to be the most important pathway for release of CNTs into the environment. In the present work, the use of radiolabelled CNTs (14C-CNT) for polycarbonate polymer nanocomposites with 1 wt% 14C-CNT content allowed for the first time to quantify and differentiate the CNT release according to the type of impact along the materials' ageing history. After an initial exposure of the nanocomposite by solar-like irradiation, further environmental impacts were applied to composite material. They aimed at mimicking disposal site conditions that may induce further ageing effects and CNT release. This study included shaking in water, rapid temperature changes, soaking in humic acid solution as well as waste water effluent, and, finally, gentle mechanical abrasion. All ageing impacts were applied sequentially, both on pristine (control) and on solar-irradiated nanocomposites. All experiments were accompanied by absolute quantification of radioactive release as well as chemical and morphological analyses of the nanocomposite surfaces using infra-red (IR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The morphological analysis showed that spectral irradiation can uncover CNT networks on the outer nanocomposite surface layers by polymer degradation. After having subjected the solar-irradiated nanocomposite to all studied disposal site effect, the total radioactive release was quantified to amount to 64 mg CNT/m2, whereas only 0.8 mg CNT/m2 were found for the un-irradiated control sample. Solar degradation of polymers was thus found to significantly increase the propensity of the studied polymer nanocomposites to release CNTs during ageing effects at the product's end-of-life typical for disposal sites. KW - Weathering KW - Carbon nanotubes KW - Nanocomposites KW - Release KW - Quantification PY - 2016 UR - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749116303748 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.04.098 SN - 0269-7491 VL - 215 IS - August SP - 356 EP - 365 PB - Elsevier Ltd. CY - Paris AN - OPUS4-36899 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Frasca, Daniele A1 - Schulze, Dietmar A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Huth, Christian A1 - Schartel, Bernhard T1 - Multifunctional multilayer graphene/elastomer nanocomposites N2 - Elastomers are usually reinforced and employed in different applications. Various different nanoparticles, including layered silicates, carbon nanotubes, and expanded graphite, are currently being used as nanofiller. Multilayer Graphene (MLG) is proposed as promising nanofiller to improve the functional properties of Chlorine-Isobutylene-Isoprene Rubber (CIIR), Nitrile-Butadiene Rubber (NBR), Natural Rubber (NR) and Styrene–Butadiene Rubber (SBR) at low concentrations. MLG is constituted by only approximately 10 graphene sheets. Nanocomposites with extremely low MLG content (3 phr) showed evident improvement in rheological, mechanical and curing properties. The Young's modulus of the nanocomposites increased more than twice in comparison with the unfilled rubbers. MLG also improved the weathering resistance of the different rubbers. The nanocomposites conserved their initial mechanical properties against weathering exposure. KW - Elastomer KW - Nanocomposite KW - Multilayer graphene PY - 2015 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2015.07.050 SN - 0014-3057 SN - 1873-1945 VL - 71 SP - 99 EP - 113 PB - Elsevier Ltd. CY - Oxford AN - OPUS4-33843 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Meyer, S. A1 - Timmel, S. A1 - Gläser, M. A1 - Braun, Ulrike A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Hagendorf, C. T1 - Polymer foil additives trigger the formation of snail trails in photovoltaic modules N2 - After several months of operation, many photovoltaic (PV) modules develop a discolouration defect called snail trails which appear as irregular dark traces across the cells. These traces are caused by silver nanoparticles accumulating within the encapsulation foil directly above the grid finger. In this work we systematically investigate combinations of encapsulation and back-sheet foils with respect to their susceptibility for snail trails. We can show that certain additive compositions within the encapsulation and back sheet foils are critical for the formation of the discolouring silver nanoparticles. We suggest a reaction model explaining the formation of snail trails from a chemical point of view. This fundamental understanding allows the rapid testing of foils for their snail trail sensitivity as well as the special design of resistant foils. KW - Snail trails KW - Encapsulation foil KW - Back-sheet foil KW - Additives KW - Silver nanoparticles PY - 2014 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2014.06.028 SN - 0927-0248 VL - 130 SP - 64 EP - 70 PB - Elsevier B.V. CY - Amsterdam [u.a.] AN - OPUS4-31249 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ramanujam, Maalolan A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Purohit, Purv A1 - Mix, Renate A1 - Schönhals, Andreas A1 - Friedrich, Jörg Florian T1 - A detailed dielectric relaxation spectroscopy study of artificial UV weathered low density polyethylene N2 - Artificial weathering of LDPE under dry conditions (<10% of relative humidity) by UV radiation was monitored by dielectric spectroscopy. For an apolar polymer like LDPE, dielectric study yields Information about the change in structure and dynamics of the system. The fluctuations of the polar groups which are generated as a result of photooxidation such as carbonyl groups can be monitored as characteristic relaxation processes like the αc or β mode. The dielectric loss characterized by typical dielectric parameters like the activation energy and dielectric strength are strongly dependent upon changes induced by photooxidation in the amorphous and crystalline domains. This paper discusses in detail how the foil reached its mechanical disintegration. It was found that initial stages of weathering induce chain scission and/or crosslinking in the amorphous domains of the polymer and the motional processes in the crystalline regions are not affected. After this induction period, an increase in the degree of crystallization was observed by employing differential calorimetry. The increasing crystallinity is considered as one of the reasons for embrittlement which finally leads to the complete loss of the structural integrity. KW - Artificial weathering KW - UV radiation KW - Dielectric relaxation KW - LDPE PY - 2012 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tca.2011.12.003 SN - 0040-6031 SN - 1872-762X VL - 530 SP - 73 EP - 78 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam AN - OPUS4-25547 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Geburtig, Anja T1 - Alterungseffekte bei Polymerwerkstoffen messen N2 - Bei der Auswahl von Werkstoffen spielt deren Alterung oft eine untergeordnete Rolle, stattdessen wird häufig der ungealterte Ausgangszustand optimiert. Materialien altern aber unterschiedlich. Der Effekt der molekularen Alterung spiegelt sich in den Eigenschaften mehr oder weniger stark und in unterschiedlichem zeitlichen Verlauf wider. Da es kein physikalisch-chemisches Modell dafür gibt, sind Alterungseffekte empirisch zu bestimmen. KW - Alterung KW - Polymerwerkstoff KW - Eigenschaftsänderung PY - 2012 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/nadc.201290356 SN - 1439-9598 SN - 1521-3854 VL - 60 IS - 10 SP - 1018 EP - 1022 PB - Wiley-VCH Verl. CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-26666 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Schulz, Ulrich A1 - Geburtig, Anja A1 - Stephan, Ina T1 - Mildew growth on automotive coatings influencing the results of outdoor weathering N2 - As the results of a 14 weeks outdoor exposure of a series of automotive coatings in South Florida, the panels were found to be overgrown with an almost closed layer of mildew. Pinholes remained as permanent surface damage after removing the mildew mycelium. The extent of the damage differed in dependence of the kind of the coating. By tracing the images and profiles of the coating surfaces systematically over all phases of weathering and the subsequent cleaning procedure, a connection between formation of pinholes and mildew growth could be found. Outdoor weathering tests in other regions of Florida as well as in Europe and Australia showed that pinholes caused by mildew attack could also be found in all other locations, but always to a lower extent than in South Florida. The standardised mildew tests EN ISO 846 and MIL-STD 810F for laboratory exposure failed to reproduce the formation of pinholes. KW - Coatings KW - Mildew KW - Weathering KW - South Florida PY - 2012 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/maco.201005784 SN - 0947-5117 SN - 1521-4176 VL - 63 IS - 2 SP - 140 EP - 147 PB - Wiley-VCH Verl. CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-25467 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Geburtig, Anja A1 - Goedecke, Thomas A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker T1 - Combined impact of ultraviolet and chemical fluids on high-density polyethylene packaging material N2 - To investigate the ageing behaviour 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/m². 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/m², 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. KW - Weathering KW - UV KW - HDPE KW - Packaging PY - 2012 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/pts.959 SN - 0894-3214 VL - 25 IS - 1 SP - 53 EP - 61 PB - Wiley CY - Chichester, UK AN - OPUS4-25417 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Braun, Ulrike A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Geburtig, Anja A1 - Bahr, Horst A1 - Schartel, Bernhard T1 - Weathering resistance of halogen-free flame retardance in thermoplastics N2 - The influence of weathering on the fire retardancy of polymers is investigated by means of a cone calorimeter test, before and after artificial weathering. The surface degradation was monitored using different techniques (ATR–FTIR, microscopy, colour measurement). Different kinds of polymeric materials were chosen, all as they are used in practice: polycarbonate (PC) blends, polyamide (PA) and polypropylene (PP) flame-retarded with arylphosphate, melamine cyanurate (MC) and intumescent formulation based on ammonium polyphosphate (APP), respectively. All samples show material degradation at the surface due to weathering. No significant weathering influence occurs on the flame retardancy when it is a bulk property, as was observed for aryl phosphates in PC blends and MC in PA. When the fire retardancy is dominated by a surface mechanism, dependence on the duration of weathering is detected: for intumescent formulations based on ammonium APP in PP, a worsening in the formation of the intumescent network was observed. KW - Fire retardancy KW - Weathering resistance KW - Degradation KW - Intumescence KW - Cone calorimeter PY - 2010 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2010.08.020 SN - 0141-3910 SN - 1873-2321 VL - 95 IS - 12 SP - 2421 EP - 2429 PB - Applied Science Publ. CY - London AN - OPUS4-22612 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Geburtig, Anja T1 - Chemiluminescence for the early detection of weathering effects of coatings - Part II: Experimental set-up and examination KW - Chemiluminescence KW - Weathering KW - Polymer KW - Oxidation PY - 2010 SN - 1547-0083 VL - 7 IS - 5 SP - 38 EP - 44 PB - Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology CY - Blue Bell, Pa. AN - OPUS4-21494 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Geburtig, Anja A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker T1 - Determination of the spectral sensitivity and temperature dependence of polypropylene crack formation caused by UV-irradiation N2 - For polypropylene of varied stabilization, spectral sensitivity as well as temperature dependence of irradiation caused crack formation was determined in artificial irradiation tests. UV radiant exposure HUV necessary to generate crack formation was measured both in spectrally dispersed irradiation and artificial irradiation in a Fluorescent UV lamp device. Dependencies were fitted to a plateau function and an Arrhenius function, respectively, to describe the action of irradiation by response functions. Applied to weather data from Phoenix, the results were compared with respective outdoor exposure results. KW - Weathering KW - UV KW - Temperature KW - Numerical simulation PY - 2010 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2010.06.014 SN - 0141-3910 SN - 1873-2321 VL - 95 IS - 10 SP - 2118 EP - 2123 PB - Applied Science Publ. CY - London AN - OPUS4-21913 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -