Thin polyethylene (LDPE) films with controlled crystalline morphology for studying plastic weathering and microplastic generation

• LDPE films with controlled crystalline morphology were successfully prepared by dip coating method. Accelerate weathering experiment performed to study the influence of spherulite dimension on aging process. An increase erosion process for presenting largest spherulites is observed. Crack initiation favored film dimension. Erosion and crack propagation found be independent measured carbonyl index. Plastic pollution has become one most visible environmental issue. Studying fragmentation mechanism polymers therefore raises health issues. Since it particularly difficult monitor all these processes in real environment, laboratory studies are still necessary obtain more accurate data identify pathways leading outcome plastic debris environment. In this paper we present a new method prepare micrometer thick different thicknesses morphologies (i.e. size) using dip-coating dimensions submitted an accelerated test which indicates that size only weak rate photo-oxidation. However, large seem sensitive surface initiation. We believe developed can used control rapidly thin weathering) wide range semi-crystalline conditions thus help better understand fragment production plastics