Which mechanism initiates epoxy thermoset polymer degradation under prolonged UV exposure?

💡 Explanation

Under UV exposure, epoxy polymers undergo photo-oxidation, initiating chain scission because photons break covalent bonds, creating free radicals which react with oxygen to break the polymer backbone. Therefore bond breakage degrades the polymer rather than hydrolysis, plasticizer issues, or debonding, which rely on different degradation modes.

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