What is "photodegradation"

alt. Any reduction or degradation in a useful property of a material because of a chemical change as a result of absorption of light. n. Any reduction or degradation in a useful property of a material because of a chemical change as a result of absorption of light.

Photo-degradation is the alteration of materials by light. Typically, the term refers to the combined action of sunlight and air. Photo-degradation is usually oxidation and hydrolysis. Often photodegradation is avoided, since it destroys paintings and other artifacts. It is however partly responsible for remineralization of biomass and is used intentionally in some disinfection technologies. Photodegridation does not apply to how materials may be aged or degraded via Infrared light or heat, but does include degredation in all of the ultravioliet light wavebands.