Plastics are vulnerable to thermo oxidative degradation during processing and usage, often due to elevated temperatures, high shear rates, or exposure to light and oxygen. This degradation process can lead to several undesirable consequences, including loss of strength, loss in elongation, surface roughness, color fading or discoloration and much more.
Oxidation, the underlying mechanism behind thermo oxidative degradation, involves a chain reaction process mediated by free radical and hydroperoxide intermediates.
Antioxidants play a crucial role in mitigating this degradation by decomposing free radicals through chemical reactions. While polymer manufacturers may incorporate antioxidants into certain polymer grades, these may not suffice to withstand prolonged processing cycles, higher shear forces, or elevated temperatures, leading to progressive polymer degradation and deterioration of mechanical properties.
It's worth noting that different antioxidants exhibit reactivity with distinct intermediates in the oxidation process, highlighting the importance of selecting appropriate antioxidant formulations to effectively combat thermo oxidative degradation in plastics.
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