Natural weathering of isotactic polypropylene (PP) plates (2 mm in thickness) was conducted for 15 months in the Philippines. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy revealed that the surface layer (200 -300 nm in thickness) was affected in the first month, and cracks are formed toward the deeper layer. On the basis of the microscopic observations along with FTIR, DSC, GPC, and tensile strength measurements, the following degradation mechanism of PP was proposed. At first, through oxygen introduced into the PP, only the surface layer seems to be affected. Gradually, the surface layer may be removed, exposing the inner layer. Then, molecular chains of the inner layer start to be degraded, accompanying a significant loss of tensile properties. Part of the degraded materials seems to be eroded, leading to the formation of cracks on the surface of the uncovered inner layer. Finally, the original surface layer may be totally eroded, making the structure of the inner layer (which should reflect the spherulitic texture) evident.
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