Mandarin:
聚合物降解 (jù hé wù jiàng jiě)

Explanation in English Language (EN):
Polymer degradation is the process by which a polymer breaks down into smaller molecules or monomers. This breakdown can be caused by various factors, including exposure to heat, light, oxygen, radiation, chemicals, or microorganisms. Degradation can lead to changes in the physical and chemical properties of the polymer, such as decreased molecular weight, loss of strength, embrittlement, and discoloration. Understanding polymer degradation is important for predicting the lifespan and performance of polymers in various applications.

Explanation in Mandarin (ZH):
聚合物降解是聚合物分解成较小分子或单体的过程。这种分解可能由多种因素引起，包括暴露于热、光、氧、辐射、化学物质或微生物。降解会导致聚合物的物理和化学性质发生变化，例如分子量降低、强度损失、脆化和变色。了解聚合物降解对于预测聚合物在各种应用中的寿命和性能很重要。

Back to Glossary

International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)
- Definition: A standardized system of symbols used to represent the sounds of spoken language.
- Purpose: Helps linguists, language learners, and educators accurately describe pronunciation across languages.
- Example: The word “hello” in British English is transcribed as /həˈləʊ/ in IPA.