Analysis of thermally and UV–Vis aged plasticized PVC using UV–Vis, ATR-FTIR and Raman spectroscopy

The stability of plasticized poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC-P) stored under indoor conditions, despite it being in commercial use for more than 80 years, hasn't been sufficiently experimentally examined, as documented in available works on PVC-P stability. With the increasing number of actively deteriorating priceless modern and contemporary artworks made of PVC-P, there is a growing need for studies dealing with the analysis of changing characteristics of PVC-P during its aging under indoor conditions. This work addresses these issues by designing PVC-P formulations, drawing on the available information on technology of PVC production and PVC compounding from the last century, and analyzing the changes in the characteristic properties of model samples made from the designed PVC-P formulations exposed to accelerated UV-Vis and thermal aging using UV-Vis, ATR-FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. The results of our study further expand the knowledge regarding the stability of PVC-P and the benefits of using non-destructive, non-invasive spectroscopic methods of analysis for monitoring changes in PVC-P characteristic properties induced by aging.