Photo-Degradation Effects Of Bio-Polybutylene-Succinate Exposed To Uvc Rays

Bioderived and biodegradable Poly Butylene Succinate (PBS) represents an alternative to fossil-based plastics, since it possesses physical-mechanical characteristics like polyethylene [1]. Its applications range from textiles, to packaging for food/cosmetics, to biomedical fields (scaffolds for tissue engineering, micro and nanoparticles for drug delivery, wound dressing, 3 D or 4D printing, electrospinning processing) [2]. The sterilizability of plastics with UVC-rays is of particular interest following the recently concluded pandemic. UVC can affect microorganisms, but it is also re-sponsible for the decomposition and degradation of many organic compounds (such as polymers). Nevertheless, in many cases (as for example biomedical, medical, food, drinks, pharma, cosmetics ap-plications) manufacts are subjected to sterilization processes before use, therefore the in-fluence of UVC on polymers is of crucial importance. In this study, the resistance of PBS to UVC exposure at room temperature has been evaluated and compared to PBS pure and PBS with an UV adsorber, the carbon black (CB).