Reversible and Irreversible Color Change during Photo and Thermal Degradation of PolyphenyleneSulfide Composite

The effect of the light spectral composition and temperature on the change of color characteristics and reflection spectra during the irradiation of polyphenylene sulfide reinforced by short glass fibers in the SUNTEST apparatus was analyzed. The scales of reversible color change upon successive exposure to total radiation corresponding to the sunlight spectrum and to visible light wereevaluated and the possible mechanisms for the observed effects are discussed. The features of the color change upon visible light irradiation of previously thermally aged samples wereconsidered. Possible causes for deviation from the Arrhenius law during thermal aging of the composite are discussed. It wasdemonstrated that even with a significant change in color, the physicomechanical and electrotechnical characteristics of the composite only changedslightly or remained virtually at the same high level.