Efek Radiasi Sinar Matahari dan Sinar Ultra Violet pada Plastik Styrofoam Kemasan Makanan dan Minuman

Abstract

The widespread use of styrofoam as food and beverage packaging is a very urgent issue to study, especially
regarding to human health. This polymer is thought to be easily degraded by beam radiation to produce
monomers that are easily oxidized to carcinogenic styrene oxides. Studies on the effects of sun and UV rays
on plastic for food and beverage packaging have been carried out. Some styrofoam samples are made in the
form of thin films and some are made in slabs. The samples were exposed to sunlight and the others were
exposed to ultraviolet light using 20 watts UV lamps for 10, 25, and 40 days. The effects of radiation on
styrofoam were characterized using a tensile test, FTIR, and physical observation. The results showed that
both sun and ultraviolet radiation can cause degradation of styrofoam. Radiation of sunlight and UV light
on styrofoam generate a decrease in tensile strength, an increase in the relative concentration of styrene
oxide, a change in the color of the sample from white to yellow, and cracks arise. The longer the time of sun
and ultraviolet radiation can accelerate styrofoam plastics degradation.