ABSTRACT
Bisphenol A polycarbonate (BPA-PC) is an important high-performance engineering thermoplastic well known for its combination of toughness, transparency, and heat resistance [1]. These properties make it an ideal material for use in demanding applications where it is exposed to external stresses such as ultraviolet (UV) light and sterilization by y-ray irradiation. However, on extended exposure to these conditions BPA-PC slowly degrades, turning progressively more yellow and eventually leading to a decrease in its physical properties. Over the years there have been numerous studies of these degradative processes so as to better design more stable BPA-PC formulations. In this Chapter, the above chemistry will be reviewed, with special emphasis on correlating past work in these areas with more recent results.
