Abstract: In order to get the fiber of photo-biodegradability and certain mechanical strength, the photo-biodegradable polyethylene fiber was produced by melt spinning. The mechanical properties was characterized with fiber tensile tester, and it was found that the breakage strength of the photo-biodegradable polyethylene fiber is close to the regular polyethylene fiber which can be used as general fiber material.. The photodegradability and biodegradability of the the photo-biodegradable fiber were studied by laboratory UV aging degradation and soil burial biodegradation. The results showed that with the extention of ultraviolet light time, the decomposition rate of photo-biodegradable polyethylene fiber increases,much higher than low density polyethylene fiber. With the increase of biological degradation time, the degradation rates increases to the maximum 27.65%.

Key words: melt spinning, polyethylene fibre, mechanical properties, photodegradation, biodegradation