Degradation of polymer matrix

In bulk erosion, the entire area of polymer matrix is subject to chemical or enzymatic reactions, thus erosion occurs homogeneously throughout the entire matrix Accordingly, the degradation pattern is sometimes termed homogeneous erosion. 

Comparison of several techniques (namely Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), simultaneous thermogravimetric analysis-differential scanning calorimetry (TGA-DSC) and ultrasonic spectroscopy) for assessing the residual physical and mechanical characteristics of polymer matrix composites (PMCs) exposed to excessive thermal loads showed the measured power spectra of ultrasonic energy to correlate with performance of graphite fibre epoxy matrix composites exposed to thermal degradation, and also that analyses with the three techniques all pointed to the same critical temperature at which thermally induced damage increased sharply [58],... 

Formation of singlet oxygen in a polymer matrix. 2.Initation of oxidative degradation of polymers. 

To provide better control of polymer matrix erosion, a more orderly degradation and erosion process is needed. In an effort to achieve this goal, materials that erode heterogeneously have been produced. In particular, for materials that erode from the surface only, the kinetics of dissolution and the release of incorporated drugs can be precisely controlled. The first surface-eroding bio-erodible polymer formulation was produced at Alza Corp. in the 1970s it was a copolymer of methyl vinyl ether and maleic anhydride [20] ... 

Radiation processing is a very convenient tool for the modification of polymer materials. Under y-rays or electron beams irradiation, free radicals are stimulated from polymer matrix and circumstance media, followed by a serial of free radical recombination or free radical quenching, which is essential for the proceeding of radiation cross-linking, degradation, and grafting. Due to the abundance of polymer matrix and modification routine, plenty of functional materials have been and could be developed by radiation processing for various applications. 

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