INNOVATIVE METAL COMPLEXES AS PHOTOSTABILIZERS TO IMPROVE THE FUNCTIONAL LONGEVITY OF POLYVINYL CHLORIDE

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is involved in diverse applications that significantly influence our daily lives; it is industrially synthesized in various configurations in order to fulfill the target application. However, PVC is susceptible to photodegradation, yielding toxic byproducts detrimental to both the environment and human health, which diminishing its utility lifespan. Addressing this concern, current research explores the application of metal complexes as potential photostabilizers to mitigate PVC photodecomposition. The objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of formulated metal complexes in preventing photodegradation. Five metals, namely Cu(II), Ni(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), and Sn(II), are included. Examining parameters, such as molecular weight attenuation, the formation of alkene-laden and carbonyl fragments, and the surface morphology alterations of PVC sheets subjected to irradiation are considered. Findings indicate that these metal complexes exhibit remarkable efficacy in decreasing the photodegradation of PVC, thus presenting a promising avenue for extending its functional longevity. The polymer containing Cd(II) complex unit showed the least damage in the PVC surface due to photoirradiation, followed by other complexes.