Additive topology governs structural degradation of weathered plastic

Abstract

Plastic degradation is commonly described as a surface-driven process regulating additive mobilization. However, the internal spatial organization of additives within polymer matrices remains poorly resolved. Here, three environmentally weathered polyethylene fragments were selected as chemically contrasted endmembers from a broader multivariate dataset to investigate how additive topology relates to structural degradation patterns. Using synchrotron-based micro-X-ray fluorescence (µXRF) and optical photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy, we spatially resolve metallic additive distributions and their association with oxidation gradients. We identify three distinct degradation archetypes: (i) rupture of additive-enriched domains associated with localized fragmentation, (ii) oxidation-mediated internal redistribution along crack networks, and (iii) homogeneous additive dispersion associated with limited structural alteration. Reactive metals such as titanium and chromium accumulate near oxidation fronts, whereas calcium-rich inclusions remain structurally isolated. These results indicate that additive topology influences structural accessibility pathways independently of total concentration. Although based on three archetypal fragments, this study provides spatially resolved evidence that internal chemical heterogeneity structures polyethylene aging and refines mechanistic interpretations of additive mobilization in environmental plastics.

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Cite

BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@article{khatib2026additive,
  title = {{Additive topology governs structural degradation of weathered plastic}},
  author = {Imane Khatib and Ana Pradas del Real and Delphine Vantelon and Christophe Sandt and Charlotte Catrouillet and Hervé Tabuteau and Camille Rivard and Aicha El Kharraf and Mark Wiesner and Julien Gigault and Maxime Pattier and Mélanie Davranche},
  journal = {npj Emerging Contaminants},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1038/s44454-026-00045-1},
  url = {https://hal.science/hal-05742484v1},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Additive topology governs structural degradation of weathered plastic
AU  - Imane Khatib
AU  - Ana Pradas del Real
AU  - Delphine Vantelon
AU  - Christophe Sandt
AU  - Charlotte Catrouillet
AU  - Hervé Tabuteau
AU  - Camille Rivard
AU  - Aicha El Kharraf
AU  - Mark Wiesner
AU  - Julien Gigault
AU  - Maxime Pattier
AU  - Mélanie Davranche
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/08
JO  - npj Emerging Contaminants
DO  - 10.1038/s44454-026-00045-1
UR  - https://hal.science/hal-05742484v1
AB  - Plastic degradation is commonly described as a surface-driven process regulating additive mobilization. However, the internal spatial organization of additives within polymer matrices remains poorly resolved. Here, three environmentally weathered polyethylene fragments were selected as chemically contrasted endmembers from a broader multivariate dataset to investigate how additive topology relates to structural degradation patterns. Using synchrotron-based micro-X-ray fluorescence (µXRF) and optical photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy, we spatially resolve metallic additive distributions and their association with oxidation gradients. We identify three distinct degradation archetypes: (i) rupture of additive-enriched domains associated with localized fragmentation, (ii) oxidation-mediated internal redistribution along crack networks, and (iii) homogeneous additive dispersion associated with limited structural alteration. Reactive metals such as titanium and chromium accumulate near oxidation fronts, whereas calcium-rich inclusions remain structurally isolated. These results indicate that additive topology influences structural accessibility pathways independently of total concentration. Although based on three archetypal fragments, this study provides spatially resolved evidence that internal chemical heterogeneity structures polyethylene aging and refines mechanistic interpretations of additive mobilization in environmental plastics.
SN  - 3059-3719
ER  -

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