Polyurethanes are one kind of relic protection materials commonly used. During artificial photo-ageing, three polyurethanes, HDI-based polyurethane, MDI-based polyurethane and TDI-based polyurethane, have been considered to undergo UV radiation. Photochemical degradation of the polyurethanes has been monitored by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflection accessory (FTIR-ATR). It was proved that the mechanism of the photochemical degradation of polyurethanes might be the scissions of carbamate (urethane) groups and the re-reactions of radical groups formed in the scission reactions. From the experiment results HDI-based polyurethane, an aliphatic diisocyanate, could be considered to be more suitably used as relic protection materials among these three polyurethanes for its ageing products with less color.
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