Microcrystallization of Atactic Polystyrene Induced by Photooxidation Aging

Photooxidation aging, hygrothermal aging, and hot‐air aging are carried out on atactic polystyrene (aPS) samples formed by injection molding. It is interesting that microcrystals of atactic polystyrene are only found in photooxidation aging. This work proposes that high molecular weight atactic polystyrene can crystallize under photooxidation aging. It is a good addition to the research on the aspect of crystallization of atactic polystyrene. In this report, high molecular weight atactic polystyrene is studied. It is found that microcrystals of atactic polystyrene exist only under the effect of photooxidation aging, and the molecular weight of polystyrene after aging is above 105. This nicely complements the research on the crystallization of atactic polystyrene.