Few attempts are available in the literature on utilising the trilayer low density polyethylene (LDPE) film as new generation of greenhouse cover to substitute the monolayer film that is often used. This paper investigates and compares the degradation behaviour and durability of both covers. The covers are exposed to 7 months of natural withering. The results revealed that the degradation resistance of trilayer film is better than the monolayer film in terms of their mechanical and optical properties. The service lifespan, based on 50% reduction in the property criterion, of the trilayer film is found to be double the service lifespan of the monolayer film.
DilaraP. A. and BriassoulisD.: ‘Standard testing methods for mechanical properties and degradation of low density polyethylene (LDPE) films used as greenhouse covering materials: a critical evaluation’, Polym. Test., 1998, 17, 549–585.
2.
GruenwaldG.: ‘Plastics: how structure determines properties’; 1992, Munich, Hanser Publishers.
3.
VishuS.: ‘Handbook of plastics testing technology’; 1995, New York, Wiley.
TseK. C. C., NgF. M. F. and YuK. N.: Polym. Degrad. Stabil., 2006, 91, 2380.
6.
CarlssonD. J. and WilesD. M. J.: J. Macromol. Sci. Part C: Rev. Macromol. Chem. Phys., 1976, 14C, 65.
7.
FechineG. J. M., RabelloM. S. and Souto-MaiorR. M.: Polym. Degrad. Stabil., 2002, 75, 153.
8.
KhanJ. H. and HamidS. H.: ‘Durability of HALS-stabilized polyethylene film in a greenhouse environment’, Polym. Degrad. Stabil., 1984, 48, 137–142.
9.
DilaraP. A. and BriassoulisD.: ‘Degradation and stabilization of low-density polyethylene films used as greenhouse covering materials’, J. Agric. Eng. Res., 2000, 76, 309–321.
10.
HassiniN., GuenachiK., HamouA., SaiterJ. M., MaraisS. and BeucherE.: ‘Polyethylene greenhouse cover aged under simulated sub-Saharan climatic conditions’, Polym. Degrad. Stabil., 2002, 75, 247–254.
11.
BriassoulisD. and SchettiniE.: ‘Measuring strains of LDPE films: the strain gauge problems’, Polym. Test., 2002, 21, 507–512.
12.
SalemM.: ‘Mechanical properties of UV-irradiated low-density polyethylene films formulated with carbon black and titanium dioxide’, Egypt. J. Sol., 2001, 24, (2), 141–150.
13.
PaciniL.: ‘Certification of plastic materials applied in agriculture’, Inf. Agr., 2001, 57, (34), 43–46.
14.
ShenZ., HuangW. and HuangW.: ‘Elastic & plastic calculation of frame structure of gutterconnected greenhouse’, Trans. Chin. Soc. Agric. Eng., 2000, 16, (2), 105–108.
15.
NijskensJ., DeltourJ., AlbrechE. and FeuilloleyP.: ‘Comparative studies on the aging of polyethylene film in the laboratory and in practical use’, Plasticulture, 1990, 87, 11–20.
MouradA.-HI., AkkadR. O., SolimanA. A. and MadkourT. M.: ‘Characterization of thermally treated and untreated polyethylene–polypropylene blends using DSC, TGA and IR techniques’, Plast Rubber Compos.: Macromol. Eng., 2009, 38, (7), 265–278.
18.
MouradA.-HI., FouadM. H. and ElleithyR.: ‘Impact of some environmental conditions on the tensile, creep-recovery, relaxation, melting and crystallinity behaviour of UHMWPE GUR410-medical grade’, Mater. Des., 2009, 30, 4112–4119.
19.
FouadM. H., MouradA.-HI. and BartonD. C.: ‘UV irradiation and aging effects on nanoscale mechanical properties of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene for biomedical implants’, Plast Rubber Compos.: Macromol. Eng., 2008, 37, (8), 346–352.
20.
FouadM. H., MouradA.-HI. and BartonD. C.: ‘Effect of pre-heat treatment on the static and dynamic thermo-mechanical properties of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene’, Polym. Test., 2005, 24, 549–556.
21.
MouradA.-HI., BekheetN., Al-ButchA., Abdel-LatifL., NafeeD. and BartonD. C.: ‘The effects of process parameters on the mechanical properties of die drawn polypropylene’, Polym. Test., 2005, 24, 169–180.
22.
BriassoulisD., WaaijenbergD., GratraudJ. and von ElsnerB.: ‘Mechanical properties of covering materials for greenhouses. Part 2: Quality assessment’, J. Agric. Eng. Res., 1997, 67, 171–217.
23.
AdamA., KouiderS. A., YoussefB., HamouA. and SaiterJ. M.: ‘Studies of polyethylene multi layer films used as greenhouse covers under Saharan climatic conditions’, Polym. Test., 2005, 24, 834–838.
24.
YoussefB., DehbiA., HamouA. and SaiterJ. M.: ‘Natural ageing of tri-layer polyethylene film: Evolution of properties and lifetime in North Africa region’, Mater. Des., 2008, 29, 2017–2022.
25.
YoussefB., BenzohraM., SaiterJ. M., DehbiA. and HamouA.: ‘Ageing characterization to determine the life duration of different LDPE based devices used for greenhouse roof’, Acta Hort. (ISHS), 2008, 801, 123–130.
26.
DehbiA., BouazaA., HamouA., YoussefB. and SaiterJ. M.: ‘Artificial ageing of tri-layer polyethylene film used as greenhouse cover under the effect of the temperature and the UV-A simultaneously’, Mater. Des., 2010, 31, 864–869.
27.
DehbiA., BouazaA. and MouradA.-HI.: ‘Degradation assessment of LDPE multilayer films used as a greenhouse cover: correlation between natural and artificial ageing impacts’, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2012, 124, 2702–2716.
28.
MouradA.-HI.: ‘Impact of blending ratio and thermal treatment on the mechanical behaviour of polyethylene/polypropylene blends’, Proc. ASME Pressure Vessels and Piping Division Conf., Chicago, IL, USA, July 2008, ASTM.
29.
BriassoulisD.: ‘Mechanical behavior of biodegradable agricultural films under real field conditions’, Polym. Degrad. Stabil., 2006, 91, 1256–1272.
30.
ScoponiM., CimminoS. and KaciM.: ‘Photo-stabilisation mechanism under natural weathering and accelerated photo-oxidative conditions of LDPE films for agricultural applications’, Polymer, 2000, 41, 7969–7980.
31.
HanafiA. and PaposolomontosA.: ‘Integrated production and protection under protected cultivation in the Mediterranean region’, Biotechnol. Adv., 1999, 17, 183–903.
32.
TidjaniA.: ‘Comparison of formation of oxidation products during photooxidation of linear low density polyethylene under different natural and accelerated weathering conditions’, Polym. Degrad. Stabil., 2000, 68, 465–469.
33.
JinC., ChristensenP. A., EgertonT. A., LawsonE. J. and WhiteJ. R.: ‘Rapid measurement of polymer photo-degradation by FTIR spectrometry of evolved carbon dioxide’, Polym. Degrad. Stabil., 2006, 91, 1086–1096.
34.
AminM. B., HaamidS. H. and KhanJ. H.: ‘Photo-oxidative degradation of polyethylene greenhouse film in a harsh environment’, J. Polym. Eng., 1995, 14, 253–267.
35.
HamidS. H., MaadhahA. G. and AminM. B.: ‘Weathering degradation of polyethylene’, in ‘Handbook of polymer degradation’, (ed. HamidS H. et al.), 219–259; 1992, New York, Marcel Dekker.
36.
YanaiG., RamA. and MiltzJ.: ‘Accelerated weathering-induced degradation of unprotected multilayer polyethylene slabs’, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 1995, 57, 303–310.
37.
Al-MadfaH., MohamedZ. and KassemM. E.: ‘Weather ageing characterization of the mechanical properties of the low density polyethylene’, Polym. Degrad. Stabil., 1998, 62, 105–109.
38.
RamA., MeirT. and MiltzJ.: ‘Durability of polyethylene films’, Int. J. Polym Mater., 1980, 8, 323–336.
39.
QureshiF., AminM., MaadhahA. and HamidS.: ‘Weather-induced degradation of LLDPE: mechanical properties’, J. Polym. Eng., 1990, 9, 67–84.
40.
DehbiA., MouradA.-HI. and BouazaA.: ‘Ageing effect on the properties of tri-layer polyethylene film used as greenhouse roof’, Proc. Eng., 2011, 10, 466–471.
MouradA.-HI., DehbiA. and DjakhdanneK.: ‘Impact of degradation of polyethylene films under simulated climatic conditions on their mechanical behaviour and thermal stability and lifetime’, Proc. 2012 Pressure Vessels & Piping Conf., Toronto, Canada, July, 2012, ASME, 131–135.
43.
MouradA.-H.I, Abdel-MagidB., El-MaaddawyT. and GramiM.: ‘Effect of seawater and warm environment on glass/epoxy and glass/urethane composites’, J. Appl. Compos. Mater., 2010, 17, (5), 557–573.
44.
MouradA.-HI., ElsayedH. F. M. and BartonD. C.: ‘Semicrystalline polymers deformation and fracture behaviour under quasistatic strain rates and triaxial states’, Strength Fract. Complex., 2005, 2, 149–162.
45.
MouradA.-HI., BekheetN., Al-ButchA., Abdel-LatifL. and NafeeD.: ‘Effect of die drawing process on the mechanical behaviour of polypropylene’, Key Eng. Mater., 2004, 261–263, 1677–1682.
46.
MouradI., ElsayedH. F., BartonD. C., KenawyM. and Abdel-LatifL. A.: ‘Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene deformation and fracture behavior as a function of high strain rate and triaxial states of stress’, Int. J. Fract., 2003, 120, (3), 501–515.
47.
MouradA.-HI.: ‘Impact of blending ratio and thermal treatment on the mechanical behaviour of polyethylene/polypropylene blends’, Proc. ASME Pressure Vessels and Piping Division Conf., Chicago, IL, USA, July 2008, ASTM, 145–155.
