TY - JOUR A1 - Damerau, Thomas A1 - Sabelus, Silke A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Hennecke, Manfred A1 - Greiner, A. T1 - Photochemische und thermische Stabilität eines Phenylen-Vinylen-Polymeren KW - Photostability KW - Fluorescence KW - Chemiluminescence PY - 1996 SN - 0016-3538 VL - 40 IS - 7 SP - 710 EP - 712 PB - GIT-Verlag CY - Darmstadt AN - OPUS4-23205 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schartel, Bernhard A1 - Frasca, Daniele A1 - Schulze, Dietmar A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Krafft, Bernd A1 - Morys, Michael A1 - Böhning, Martin A1 - Rybak, Thomas T1 - Multilayer graphene rubber nanocomposites N2 - Multilayer Graphene (MLG), a nanoparticle with a specific surface of BET = 250 m²/g and thus made of only approximately 10 graphene sheets, is proposed as a nanofiller for rubbers. When homogenously dispersed, it works at low loadings enabling the replacement of carbon black (CB), increase in efficiency, or reduction in filler concentration. Actually the appropriate preparation yielded nanocomposites in which just 3 phr are sufficient to significantly improve the rheological, curing and mechanical properties of different rubbers, as shown for Chlorine-Isobutylene-Isoprene Rubber (CIIR), Nitrile-Butadiene Rubber (NBR), Natural Rubber (NR), and Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR). A mere 3 phr of MLG tripled the Young’s modulus of CIIR, an effect equivalent to 20 phr of carbon black. Similar equivalents are observed for MLG/CB mixtures. MLG reduces gas permeability, increases thermal and electrical conductivities, and retards fire behavior. The later shown by the reduction in heat release rate in the cone calorimeter. The higher the nanofiller concentration is (3 phr, 5 phr, and 10 phr was investigated), the greater the improvement in the properties of the nanocomposites. Moreover, the MLG nanocomposites improve stability of mechanical properties against weathering. An increase in UV-absorption as well as a pronounced radical scavenging are proposed and were proved experimentally. To sum up, MLG is interesting as a multifunctional nanofiller and seems to be quite ready for rubber development. T2 - TOP 2016, VIII International Conference on “Times of Polymers and Composites” CY - Naples, Italy DA - 19.06.2016 KW - Graphene KW - Nanocomposite KW - Rubber PY - 2016 SN - 978-0-7354-1390-0 DO - https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4949621 SN - 0094-243X SN - 1551-7616 VL - 1736 SP - 020046, 1 EP - 4 PB - AIP AN - OPUS4-36864 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Frasca, Daniele A1 - Schulze, Dietmar A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Morys, Michael A1 - Schartel, Bernhard T1 - Multilayer graphene/chlorine-isobutene-isoprene rubber nanocomposites: the effect of dispersion N2 - Multilayer graphene (MLG) is composed of approximately 10 sheets of graphene. It is a promising nanofiller just starting to become commercially available. The Dispersion of the nanofiller is essential to exploit the properties of the nanocomposites and is dependent on the preparation method. In this study, direct incorporation of 3 parts per hundred of rubber (phr) MLG into chlorine-isobutene- isoprene rubber (CIIR) on a two-roll mill did not result in substantial enhancement of the material properties. In contrast, by pre-mixing the MLG (3 phr) with CIIR using an ultrasonically assisted solution mixing procedure followed by two-roll milling, the properties (rheological, curing, and mechanical) were improved substantially compared with the MLG/CIIR nanocomposites mixed only on the mill. The Young’s moduli of the nanocomposites mixed in solution increased by 38%. The CIIR/MLG nanocomposites produced via solution showed superior durability against weathering exposure. KW - Multilayer graphene KW - Nanocomposite KW - Dispersion KW - Rubber PY - 2016 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/pat.3740 SN - 1042-7147 SN - 1099-1581 VL - 27 IS - 7 SP - 872 EP - 881 PB - Wiley AN - OPUS4-36866 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Frasca, Daniele A1 - Schulze, Dietmar A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Krafft, Bernd A1 - Rybak, Thomas A1 - Schartel, Bernhard T1 - Multilayer Graphene/Carbon Black/Chlorine Isobutyl Isoprene Rubber Nanocomposites N2 - High loadings of carbon black (CB) are usually used to achieve the properties demanded of rubber compounds. In recent years, distinct nanoparticles have been investigated to replace CB in whole or in part, in order to reduce the necessary filler content or to improve performance. Multilayer graphene (MLG) is a nanoparticle made of just 10 graphene sheets and has recently become commercially available for mass-product nanocomposites. Three phr (part for hundred rubbers) of MLG are added to chlorine isobutyl isoprene rubber (CIIR)/CB composites in order to replace part of the CB. The incorporation of just 3 phr MLG triples the Young’s modulus of CIIR; the same effect is obtained with 20 phr CB. The simultaneous presence of three MLG and CB also delivers remarkable properties, e.g. adding three MLG and 20 phr CB increased the hardness as much as adding 40 phr CB. A comprehensive study is presented, showing the influence on a variety of mechanical properties. The potential of the MLG/CB combination is illustrated to reduce the filler content or to boost performance, respectively. Apart from the remarkable mechanical properties, the CIIR/CB/MLG nanocomposites showed an increase in weathering resistance. KW - nanocomposites KW - rubber KW - multilayer graphene KW - carbon black PY - 2016 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-358569 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/polym8030095 SN - 2073-4360 VL - 8 SP - 95 PB - MDPI CY - Basel, Switzerland AN - OPUS4-35856 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - 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 - Scholz, Philipp A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Panne, Ulrich A1 - Weidner, Steffen ED - Scholz, Philipp T1 - Degradation of MDI-based polyether and polyester-polyurethanes in various environments - Effects on molecular mass and crosslinking N2 - Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) was used to monitor changes of the molecular masses of thermoplastic polyether – and polyester urethane (TPU) exposed to thermal, hydrolytic, and photo-oxidative (UV) Degradation conditions for several days. The thermal treatment was performed at elevated temperatures (100–200 °C) under oxidative (air) as well as non-oxidative (nitrogen) conditions to evaluate the specific influence of oxygen on the degradation. At higher temperatures (≥175 °C) a fast decrease of the molecular masses of both PU accompanied by a high degree of crosslinking was found. At lower temperatures (≤150 °C) the polymers remained widely unaffected by thermal degradation within the investigated degradation interval of up to two weeks. Surprisingly, the influence of oxygen (air) was found to be less distinct. In contrast to that, UV treatment at 25 °C at less than 10% rel. humidity (RH) resulted in a fast crosslinking, whereas the molecular masses of both PU decreased slower than for thermal treatments. The depth of penetration of the UV radiation was estimated using 3D printed PU samples with different thicknesses. Hydrolysis based degradation effects were less significant. Only slight molecular mass changes were detected at temperatures ≤80 °C within a time span of 14 days, while no crosslinking could be measured. Considering the degradation results at the investigated exposure parameters, it could be shown that esterbased PU in general exhibits a significant higher stability compared to ether-based materials. KW - Polyurethane KW - Thermal degradation KW - UV degradation KW - Molecular masses KW - Crosslinking PY - 2019 UR - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142941819302363 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2019.04.028 SN - 0142-9418 VL - 77 SP - 105881, 1 EP - 12 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam AN - OPUS4-48619 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Scholz, Philipp A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Elert, Anna Maria A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana A1 - Becker, Roland A1 - Hoffmann, Katrin A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Tschiche, Harald A1 - Reinsch, Stefan A1 - Weidner, Steffen ED - Scholz, Philipp T1 - Analytical toolset to characterize polyurethanes after exposure to artificial weathering under systematically varied moisture conditions N2 - Polyether and -ester urethanes (PU) were exposed to artificial weathering at 40 °C and artificial UV radiation in a weathering chamber. In 3 parallel exposures, humidity was varied between dry, humid, and wet conditions. Material alteration was investigated by various analytical techniques like size exclusion chromatography (SEC), liquid chromatography-infrared spectroscopy (LC-FTIR), thermal-desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS), fluorescence mapping and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Our results show that depending on the weathering conditions, different degradation effects can be observed. By means of SEC an initial strong decrease of the molar masses and a broadening of the mass distributions was found. After a material dependent time span this was followed by a plateau where molar mass changes were less significant. A minor moisture-dependent degradation effect was only found for polyester PU. Fluorescence measurements on two materials revealed an increase in the luminescence intensity upon weathering process reaching a saturation level after about 500 h. The changes in the optical properties observed after different exposure conditions and times were very similar. The TD-GC-MS data showed the fate of the stabilizers and antioxidant in the course of weathering. LC-FTIR measurements revealed a change in peak intensities and the ratio of urethane and carbonyl bands. KW - Polyurethane KW - Artificial weathering KW - Moisture KW - Crosslinking KW - Degradation PY - 2019 UR - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142941819303708 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2019.105996 SN - 0142-9418 VL - 78 SP - 105996, 1 EP - 9 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam AN - OPUS4-48625 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Metz, Christian A1 - Franz, Philipp A1 - Fischer, C. A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Maierhofer, Christiane T1 - Active thermography for quality assurance of 3D-printed polymer structures N2 - Additively manufactured test specimens made of polyamide 12 (PA 12) by Laser Sintering as well as of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) by Fused Layer Modelling, were characterised with active thermography directly after manufacturing and after artificial weathering. For this, two different excitation methods (flash and pulse heating) were used and compared, regarding their suitability for the detection of constructed and imprinted defects inside the test specimens. To increase the quality of the thermograms, data processing methods like thermal signal reconstruction (TSR) and Fourier Transformation after TSR were applied. To further investigate the long-term stability of the additively manufactured test specimens towards environmental stress, like UV radiation, heat, humidity, water contact and frost with active thermography, an artificial weathering test over 2000 hours (~3 months) was applied to the specimens. The monitoring of the changes in the optical properties of the weathered plastics was supplemented by spectral reflectance and UV/VIS spectroscopy. KW - Additive manufacturing KW - Polymers KW - Artificial weathering KW - Active thermography KW - UV/VIS spectroscopy PY - 2019 DO - https://doi.org/10.1080/17686733.2019.1686896 SN - 1768-6733 (Print) 2116-7176 (Online) VL - 18 IS - 1 SP - 50 EP - 72 PB - Taylor & Francis AN - OPUS4-49817 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Erdmann, Maren A1 - Kleinbub, Sherin A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Schütter, Jan David A1 - Niebergall, Ute A1 - Böhning, Martin A1 - Koerdt, Andrea T1 - Photo-oxidation of PE-HD affecting polymer/fuel interaction and bacterial attachment N2 - In the present study, a simple approach was used to investigate the effect of UV-exposure on two high density Polyethylene materials (PE-HD), commonly used for storage tanks, on fuel sorption behavior and colonization by microorganisms. The aim was to investigate whether the sorption behavior of the fuels (diesel/biodiesel) and the colonization by microorganisms, frequently occurring in the fuel, is affected and may lead to undesirable or safety-relevant material changes. We showed that the UV-irradiation leads to significant changes of the sorption behavior due to chemi-crystallization and crosslinking. The fuel Sorption is affected by the UV-induced formation of polar carbonyl and hydroxyl groups predominantly occurring at the surface. With respect to microbial colonization behavior for Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, isolated from a contaminated diesel sample, differences of the initial adhesion could be shown depending on the initial type of polyethylene as well as on the degree of UV-induced degradation. KW - High density polyethylene KW - Bacterial attachment KW - UV-irradiation KW - Fuel sorption PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-510001 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41529-020-0122-1 VL - 4 IS - 1 SP - Article number: 18 PB - Nature Partner Journals AN - OPUS4-51000 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Erdmann, Maren A1 - Niebergall, Ute A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Böhning, Martin T1 - Evaluation of UV-induced embrittlement of PE-HD by Charpy impact test N2 - The impact fracture behavior of two common high-density polyethylene grades for container applications were intensively studied by the instrumented Charpy impact test after well-defined exposure to UV-irradiation. Individual stages of the impact event, such as crack initiation and crack propagation energy as well as maximum impact load, were investigated from the recorded load–deflection curves. UV-induced material property changes were further investigated by infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and dynamic-mechanical analysis as well as density measurements. Based on the results of the Charpy impact test, three indicators were identified to describe the extend of photooxidation on high-density polyethylene: (a) a reduced Charpy impact strength—at least to half of its initial value for a distinctly brittle impact fracture, (b) a marked decrease in the crack propagation contribution to the impact strength, and (c) an increase of the brittle features of the fracture surface. KW - Degradation KW - Mechanical properties KW - Packaging KW - Polyolefins KW - Polyethylene PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-509130 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/APP.49069 SN - 0021-8995 VL - 137 IS - 36 SP - 49069 PB - Wiley AN - OPUS4-50913 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Tan, Yi A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Klack, Patrick A1 - Kukofka, Tobias A1 - Ruder, J. A1 - Schartel, Bernhard T1 - Durability of the flame retardance of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer cables: Comparing different flame retardants exposed to different weathering conditions N2 - Scientific publications addressing the durability of the flame retardance of cables during their long-term application are rare and our understanding lacks. Three commercial flame retardants, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum diethyl phosphinate (AlPi-Et), and intumescent flame retardant based on ammonium polyphosphate, applied in ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) model cables, are investigated. Different artificial aging scenarios were applied: accelerated weathering (UV-irradiation/temperature/rain phases), humidity exposure (elevated temperature/humidity), and salt spray exposure. The deterioration of cables’ surface and flame retardancy were monitored through imaging, color measurements, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and cone calorimeter investigations. Significant degradation of the materials’ surface occurred. The flame retardant EVA cables are most sensitive to humidity exposure; the cable with AlPi-Et is the most sensitive to the artificial aging scenarios. Nevertheless, substantial flame retardance persisted after being subjected for 2000 h, which indicates that the equivalent influence of natural exposure is limited for several years, but less so for long-term use. KW - Durability KW - Flame retardant KW - Cable KW - Weathering KW - Cone calorimeter PY - 2020 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/APP.47548 SN - 0021-8995 VL - 137 IS - 1 SP - 47548 PB - Wiley AN - OPUS4-50237 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Tan, Yi A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Kukofka, Tobias A1 - Klack, Patrick A1 - Ruder, J. A1 - Lin, Xuebao A1 - Schartel, Bernhard T1 - Degradation of flame retardance: A comparison of ethylene‐vinyl acetate and low‐density polyethylene cables with two different metal hydroxides N2 - The durability of flame retardancy is a challenge for cables over long lifetimes. The degradation of flame retardance is investigated in two kinds of exposures, artificial weathering and humidity. In this basic study, typical mineral flame retardants in two polymers frequently used in cable jackets are investigated to get the fundamental picture. Aluminum hydroxide (ATH) and magnesium hydroxide (MDH) are compared in ethylene‐vinyl acetate (EVA), and further in EVA and linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) cables containing the same ATH. The changes in chemical structure at the surface are studied through attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR), the formation of cracks, and changes in color are investigated. The cone calorimeter and a bench scale fire testing cable module are utilized to evaluate the fire behavior of the cables. Although the flame retardancy deteriorated slightly, it survived harsh exposure conditions for 2000 h. Compared to EVA/MDH and LLDPE/ATH, the fire behavior of EVA/ATH is the least sensitive. Taken together, all of the results converge to estimate that there will be no problem with flame retardancy performance, for materials subjected to natural exposure for several years; the durability of fire retardancy is questionable for longer periods, and thus requires further investigation. KW - Durability KW - Flame retardant KW - Aluminum hydroxide (ATH) KW - Magnesium hydroxide KW - Ethylene-vinyl acetate KW - Cables KW - Weathering PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-519573 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/app.50149 VL - 138 IS - 14 SP - 50149 PB - Wiley AN - OPUS4-51957 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Daus, Lars-Hendrik A1 - Schartel, Bernhard A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Mangelsdorf, R. A1 - Korzen, Manfred T1 - A chain is no stronger than its weakest link: Weathering resistance of water-based intumescent coatings for steel applications N2 - A systematic approach was used to investigate the weathering-induced degradation of a common water–based intumescent coating. In this study, the coatings are intended for humid indoor applications on steel substrates. The coating contains ammonium polyphosphate, pentaerythritol, melamine, and polyvinyl acetate. By replacing each ingredient with a less water-soluble substance, the most vulnerable substances, polyvinyl acetate and pentaerythritol, were identified. Furthermore, the weathering resistance of the system was improved by exchanging the ingredients. The coatings were stressed by artificial weathering tests and evaluated by fire tests. Thermogravimetry and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were used to study the thermal decomposition. This study lays the foundation for the development of a new generation of water-based intumescent coatings. KW - Intumescence KW - Fire resistance KW - Fire protective coatings KW - Weathering KW - Thermogravimetric analyses PY - 2021 DO - https://doi.org/10.1177/0734904120961064 SN - 0734-9041 SN - 1530-8049 VL - 39 IS - 1 SP - 72 EP - 102 PB - SAGE AN - OPUS4-52015 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Geburtig, Anja A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Trubiroha, P. T1 - Exposure response function for a quantitative prediction of weathering caused aging of polyethylene N2 - The exposure response function of the carbonyl formation over the bulk has been determined for a high-density polyethylene of a thickness of 200 μm, which was used as a weathering reference material according to ISO TR 19032. To this end, spectral sensitivity was studied by local measurement of the effect of spectrally dispersed irradiation. Both the exposure device and the methodology of determination are described. The temperature dependency of photooxidation was determined by UV exposure at various temperatures between 23 and 80 °C. Deviations from linearity and thus reciprocity below 40 °C are discussed and assumed to be related to diffusion limitations. An Arrhenius approach –based on data of linear carbonyl formation – has been incorporated into the exposure response function. Using this exposure response function, aging in terms of the distribution of a quantitative property change over a plastic component can be predicted for a specific outdoor location with real chronologic weather data as input for the exposure. Thus, artificial and natural weathering can be linked and compared. The established exposure response function has been validated by outdoor exposure results from the literature. If an estimated diffusion limitation is taken into consideration, calculations and published data are in good agreement. KW - Irradiation KW - Weathering KW - Spectral sensitivity KW - Temperature dependency KW - Spectral irradiation PY - 2019 DO - https://doi.org/10.3139/120.111348 SN - 0025-5300 VL - 61 IS - 6 SP - 517 EP - 526 PB - Carl Hanser Verlag GmbH & Co. KG AN - OPUS4-48295 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Geburtig, Anja A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana T1 - Combined impact of UV radiation and nitric acid on high‐density polyethylene containers as a laboratory test N2 - In a laboratory test, transparent high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) jerrycans have been exposed to both UV radiation and 55 wt‐% nitric acid solution at (41 ± 2)°C, for up to 20 days. For comparison, UV radiant exposure (21 days) and nitric acid exposure (up to 6 weeks) were performed separately, at nearly equal temperatures. The damages are compared with FTIR spectroscopy in ATR and HT‐gel permeation chromatography(GPC) on a molecular level and with hydraulic internal pressure testing as a component test. For the used jerrycans, relevant oxidation can only be found after the combined exposure. This is caused by the decomposition of nitric acid into nitrous gases by UV radiation, which is also observed at lower concentrations (28 wt‐%). After 6 days of laboratory exposure, this is rated as critical, which corresponds to about 1/10 year in Central Europe, according to the UV radiant exposure. The gradual increase in oxidative damage shows the reproducibility of the test. KW - Molecular mass distribution KW - High-density polyethylene KW - Nitric acid KW - UV radiation PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-550141 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/pts.2673 SN - 0894-3214 SP - 1 EP - 7 PB - John Wiley & Sons Ltd AN - OPUS4-55014 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Milks, A. A1 - Lehmann, J. A1 - Leder, D. A1 - Sietz, M. A1 - Koddenberg, T. A1 - Böhner, U. A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Terberger, T. T1 - A double-pointed wooden throwing stick from Schöningen, Germany: Results and new insights from a multianalytical study N2 - The site of Schöningen (Germany), dated to ca. 300,000 years ago, yielded the earliest large-scale record of humanly-made wooden tools. These include wooden spears and shorter double-pointed sticks, discovered in association with herbivores that were hunted and butchered along a lakeshore. Wooden tools have not been systematically analysed to the same standard as other Palaeolithic technologies, such as lithic or bone tools. Our multianalytical study includes micro-CT scanning, 3-dimensional microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, supporting a systematic technological and taphonomic analysis, thus setting a new standard for wooden tool analysis. In illustrating the biography of one of Schöningen’s double-pointed sticks, we demonstrate new human behaviours for this time period, including sophisticated woodworking techniques. The hominins selected a spruce branch which they then debarked and shaped into an aerodynamic and ergonomic tool. They likely seasoned the wood to avoid cracking and warping. After a long period of use, it was probably lost while hunting, and was then rapidly buried in mud. Taphonomic alterations include damage from trampling, fungal attack, root damage and compression. Through our detailed analysis we show that Middle Pleistocene humans had a rich awareness of raw material properties, and possessed sophisticated woodworking skills. Alongside new detailed morphometrics of the object, an ethnographic review supports a primary function as a throwing stick for hunting, indicating potential hunting strategies and social contexts including for communal hunts involving children. The Schöningen throwing sticks may have been used to strategically disadvantage larger ungulates, potentially from distances of up to 30 metres. They also demonstrate that the hominins were technologically capable of capturing smaller fast prey and avian fauna, a behaviour evidenced at contemporaneous Middle Pleistocene archaeological sites. KW - FTIR KW - Stone Age KW - Middle Pleistocene KW - Throwing-stick KW - Wood KW - Micro-CT scanning KW - 3-dimensional microscopy PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-580012 DO - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0287719 SN - 1932-6203 VL - 18 IS - 7 SP - 1 EP - 32 PB - PLOS CY - San Francisco, California, US AN - OPUS4-58001 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Scholz, Philipp A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Brüll, Robert A1 - Simon, Franz-Georg T1 - Investigation on the Durability of a Polypropylene Geotextile under Artificial Aging Scenarios N2 - Geosynthetics are widely used in various civil engineering applications, such as geotextiles in coastal protection, and display a sustainable alternative to natural mineral materials. However, the full benefits of using geosynthetics can only be gained with a long service lifetime of the products. With the use of added stabilizers to the polymers, service lifetimes can be achieved in the range of 100 years. Therefore, accelerated aging methods are needed for the assessment of the long-term performance of geotextiles. In the present study, the behavior of geosynthetic materials made of polypropylene was investigated under artificial aging conditions involving elevated temperatures ranging from 30 to 80 °C, increased oxygen pressures ranging from 10 to 50 bar in water-filled autoclaves, and UV irradiation under atmospheric conditions. ATR-IR spectroscopy was employed to detect the increase in the carbonyl index over various aging durations, indicating the oxidative degradation of the geotextile. The most pronounced increase was observed in the case of aging through UV irradiation, followed by thermal aging. Elevated pressure, on the other hand, had a lower impact on oxidation. High-temperature size exclusion chromatography was utilized to follow the reduction in molar mass under different degradation conditions, and the results were consistent with those obtained from ATR-IR spectroscopy. In polyolefins such as polypropylene, Hindered Amine Stabilizers (HAS) are used to suppress oxidation caused by UV radiation. The quantitative analysis of HAS was carried out using a UV/Vis method and HPLC. The degradation of UV stabilizers during the aging of geotextiles is responsible for the oxidation and the reduction in the molar mass of polypropylene. From the results, it can be concluded that applications of PP geotextile without soil or sand cover might cause the risk of the formation of microplastic particles. Material selection, design, and maintenance of the construction must follow best practices, including the system’s removal or replacement at end-of-life. Otherwise, a sustainable use of geotextiles in civil engineering is not possible. KW - Geotextiles KW - Microplastic KW - Size exclusion chromatography KW - Accelerated aging PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-599739 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093559 SN - 2071-1050 VL - 16 IS - 9 SP - 1 EP - 15 PB - MDPI AG CY - Basel AN - OPUS4-59973 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Fornacon-Wood, C. A1 - Stühler, M. R. A1 - Gallizioli, C. A1 - Manjunatha, B. R. A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Schartel, Bernhard A1 - Plajer, A. J. T1 - Precise construction of weather-sensitive poly(ester-alt-thioesters) from phthalic thioanhydride and oxetane N2 - We report the selective ring opening copolymerisation (ROCOP) of oxetane and phthalic thioanhydride by a heterobimetallic Cr(III)K catalyst precisely yielding semi-crystalline alternating poly(esteralt- thioesters) which show improved degradability due to the thioester links in the polymer backbone. KW - Sulfur containing polymers KW - Durability KW - Weathering KW - Synthesis PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-590762 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d3cc03315e SN - 1364-548X VL - 59 IS - 76 SP - 11353 EP - 11356 PB - RSC AN - OPUS4-59076 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schilling, Markus A1 - Marschall, Niklas A1 - Niebergall, Ute A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Böhning, Martin T1 - Characteristics of environmental stress cracking of PE-HD induced by biodiesel and diesel fuels N2 - In the context of the increasing effect of carbon dioxide emissions on the global climate biodiesel produced from renewable sources has emerged as a promising contender replacing fossil fuels, especially in long-range transport vehicles, using existing engines and infrastructure. High-density polyethylene is one of the prevailing materials for pipe and container applications for storage and transport of such fuels, both, from fossil and renewable resources. The contact with the respective fuels raises questions concerning material compatibility as biodiesel exhibits significant differences compared to conventional diesel fuel affecting its sorption and plasticization behavior in polyethylene. In this study, its behavior with respect to environmental stress cracking, considered one of the most frequent damage mechanisms leading to failure of polymer parts and packaging, was evaluated using the well-established Full Notch Creep Test. This approach allows for a detailed fracture surface analysis using imaging techniques, such as optical and laser scanning microscopy, as well as infrared spectroscopy. Comparing the environmental stress cracking behavior in standard surfactant solutions with that in biodiesel and diesel, respective crack propagation rates, showing different levels of acceleration, were determined and details of the underlying mechanisms could be revealed. Furthermore, the specific infrared absorption of the biodiesel’s ester functionality allows its semi-quantitative determination on the fracture surface of the tested specimens after failure. Thus, a preferred uptake of sorptive fluids in the fracture zone due to local morphological changes of the polyethylene could be directly evidenced by infrared spectroscopy. KW - Environmental stress cracking (ESC) KW - Full notch creep test (FNCT) KW - Confocal laser scanning microscopy (LSM) KW - Biodiesel KW - Diesel PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-608591 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2024.108547 VL - 138 SP - 1 EP - 16 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-60859 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -