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Chemistry

Mechanisms of Polymer Degradation by Heat

Quick fact

Polyethylene, one of the most common plastics, begins to thermally degrade at around 300°C, even without oxygen, through random chain scission that rapidly reduces its molecular weight.

Why this is interesting

Have you ever left a plastic spoon near a hot stove and watched it curl and weaken? That's heat degradation in action—and it's not just melting, but a series of chemical changes that break the polymer's backbone.