PlastiTrax® Simulated Aging tablet
| UV aging|
The Simulated Aging Kit contains UV-degraded particles of various polymer types (PE, PP, PS, PET, PVC) and is available in different size fractions. This is essential because UV degradation can lead to spectral changes in the particles, which may cause them to be overlooked or misidentified during analysis.
Using this product, you can verify whether your analytical workflow is capable of detecting degraded particles and simultaneously expand your spectral database with the altered spectra. It provides a valuable basis for validating your analyses and improving both the detection and recovery of particles in different degradation states.
UV degradation of Polypropylene (PP)
The exemplary spectrum of a single polypropylene particle (PP) exposed to UV radiation for 40 days shows clear spectral changes. Over time, new absorption bands appear, indicating oxidation such as carbonyl (C=O) and hydroxyl (–OH) groups. These changes are characteristic of oxidative processes that occur during prolonged UV exposure.
Carbonyl groups typically appear in the region around 1700 cm⁻¹, while hydroxyl groups can be observed as broad absorption bands in the region of 3200–3600 cm⁻¹. These features serve as clear indicators of the chemical modification of the PP material. Such changes significantly affect the identifiability of the polymer, as the spectra of degraded polymers no longer fully match those of their non-degraded counterparts.
The Simulated Aging Kit therefore provides two key applications that make it an essential tool in microplastic analysis:
1. Verification of the existing analytical method
UV-aged and weathered particles exhibit significant spectral changes due to degradation, which differentiate them from non-aged polymers. The kit allows laboratories to test whether their analytical workflow is capable of reliably identifying such aged particles. This is crucial to ensure that relevant microplastic particles are not overlooked during analysis.
2. Expansion of spectral databases
Spectral changes such as the formation of carbonyl groups are typical for degraded polymers and must be considered in analytical workflows. The kit enables the integration of aged spectra into existing spectral libraries, thereby improving identification rates and increasing the robustness of spectral databases for future analyses.
The Simulated Aging Kit thus provides a solid foundation for more precise and comprehensive analysis of microplastic samples in different degradation states.
PlastiTrax® Simulated Aging
| Particle Number | Polymer Type | Particle Shape |
As with our other products, the Simulated Aging Kit is available in different particle size fractions: 20–25 µm, 25–50 µm, and 50–100 µm. It includes five priority polymers (PP, PE, PET, PS, PVC). This selection enables flexible application of the kit, adapted to different analytical requirements and scenarios, and provides a comprehensive basis for investigating aged microplastic particles.
