【正文】 high enough, it can activate a chemical reaction whereby internal bonds (carbon to carbon, carbon to hydrogen, carbon to halogen, etc.) are broken so that polymer degradation results. PVC is damaged by dehydrochlorination (release of hydrogen chloride), autooxidation and echanochemical chain scission. This degradation is caused by the simultaneous sequence of these reactions.Dehydrochlorination, prevailing reaction during processing,leads to increasing discoloration. In the course of the proceeding degradation the physical properties are also changed in the direction of increasing embrittlement. PVC of ideal constitution should be thermally stable, which was concluded from investigations with model substances. Therefore, it has to be assumed that the damage, articularly the dehydrochlorinations, starts from sites of the macromolecule with labile chlorine–carbon bonds. PVC can be degraded by heat and sun lights. The release of hydrogen chloride, which is the indication of PVC degradation in prolonged exposure to the sun’s electromagnetic radiation in the UV region, is occurred according to the following reactions:The color of PVCbased article is changed from yellow to black according to degrees of the degradation. Once the reaction has started, polymers quickly and progressively experience changes in appearance: surface qualities, gloss, chalking, color, electrical properties, tensile strength and elongation。 and can reach the end points of embrittlement and total disintegration.The degradation of polymers exposed to UV, often described as photodegradation and frequently identified as photooxidation, can follow various routes. By absorbing UV radiation directly, a polymer molecule can reach a highenergy excited state where it bees unstable. If the excess energy can be dissipated in a fashion that does not affect the molecule by making it phosphoresce or fluoresce, or by converting the energy to heat that can be carried away, or by transferring the energy to another molecule, photochemical reaction does not started and thus, polymer degradation will not happen. However, such actions occur only rarely, since most polymers cannot dispose of the excitation energy without undergoing a chemical reaction that sets off a degradative process.In theory, many pure polymers should not absorb UV radiation, and thus, not be subject to photodegradation. However, in practice the most polymers contain impurities such as carbonyl or carboxy groups or hydroperoxides that readily absorb radiation in the 290–400 nm range causing them to break down. Thus, generating sites within the polymer structure where chemical reactions can be initiated and propagated by free radicals. The active groups may be unavoidably present as a result of reactions that occur during polymerization. Similarly, metallic ions are present in most polymers as residues from polymerization catalysts, or as constituents of pounding additives such as heat stabilizers, antioxidants, colorants, fillers and others. The metal ions are highly receptive to the absorption of UV radiation, and are efficient in transferring the absorbed energy to the polymer molecules around them, thus, they act as photosensitizers and can promote degradation at the same time that they perform their desired functions.Another contributor to photodegradation of polymers is oxygen, which helps any free radicals that may be liberated by the UV to initiate and propagate oxidation of the polymer, hence, the term photooxidation.Polyvinyl chloride suffers from poor heat stability. Its degradation occurs by autocatalytic dehydrochlorination initiated at the labile sites in the polymer chains. This leads to severe discoloration and loss of mechanical properties. The dehydrochlorination most probably proceeds by a chain mechanism involving radical intermediates. Various defect sites in PVC are branching.Inorganic and organic thermal stabilizers are monly added to protect the polymer from heat degradation. Among the most widely used ultraviolet stabilizers is titanium dioxide pigment. Filling a polyvinyl chloride position with this pigment