The photodegradation mechanism of organotin polymers such as methyl methacrylate (MMA) -tributyltin methacrylate (TBTMA) copolymer by irradiation with ultraviolet light have been studied. For ultraviolet light irradiation was used Fadeometer (Model : Mitsubishi MH-1, high pressure mercury vapour lamp : H 400-F, main wavelength : 365 nm, intensity : 8.68×10
3 μW/cm
2). After irradiation, the leaching rate (L. R.) of tributyltin (TBT) from polymer films and infrared spectrum of organotin polymer films were determined by gas chromatography equipped with an electron-capture detector (ECD-GC) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), respectively. As the results, the leaching rate of TBT and antifouling performance of polymer film were decreased remarkably by irradiation with ultraviolet light. Therefore, it was concluded that tributyltin of organotin polymer was decomposed in to dibutyltin compound. The photodegradation mechanism of organotin polymer was considered to be : o=c=o-Sn-Bu-Bu-Bu c-o-o-Sn-Bu-Bu c-o-o-Bu-Sn-Bu-o-o-c
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