What types of degradations that can take place in polymers and ceramics?

Explanation:

Polymer degradation is a change in the properties of the polymer – such as tensile strength, color, shape, molecular weight – or of a polymer-based product under the influence of one or more environmental factors, such as heat, light, chemicals, or any other applied force.

Photoinduced degradation:  Electromagnetic waves with the energy of visible light or higher, such as ultraviolet light, X-rays and gamma rays are usually involved in such reactions. Thermal degradation: Chain-growth polymers can be degraded by thermolysis at high temperatures to give monomers, oils, gases and water. This kind of degradation can happen by pyrolysis, hydrogenation or gasification:Chemical degradation: it can happen through many mechanism such as oxidation, ozone cracking, galvanic actior or Chlorine-induced crackingBiological degradation: by microorganisms to give lower molecular weight molecules  

In the case of ceramics, environmental factors are the major cause. There are several ways in which ceramics break down physically and chemically

Physical degrdation: from mishandling, impacts and abrasion, frost and mold growthChemical degradation: because of water and soluble salts

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