The effect of UV radiation on the thermal degradation of cellulose triacetate

The effect of UV radiation on the thermal degradation of cellulose triacetate (CTA) has been investigated. Simultaneous thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) have been performed on CTA samples of 0.25 mm thickness. These samples were exposed to different energy fluences of UV in the range 2.3–113 kJ/cm². The specific heat capacity, C_p, has been evaluated for unexposed and exposed CTA samples using DSC method. The results indicate that the transition temperatures, onset temperatures of evaporation, specific heat capacity and the thermal activation energy of decomposition, E_a are affected by the UV energy fluence owing to the simultaneous processes of degradation and crosslinking.