Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
6184882 
Journal Article 
Effectiveness of antioxidants: Suppression of evolution of gaseous degradation products from low-density polyethylene during thermo-oxidation 
Atlung, G; Berg Olsen, N; Øgaard Madsen, J 
1985 
1 
Polymer Degradation and Stability
ISSN: 0141-3910 
12 
2 
131-140 
The present investigation is part of a project concerning improvements of the working environment for polymer manufacturing processes at high temperatures; for example, welding and extrusion coating. The evolution of gaseous degradation products from unstabilized and antioxidant stabilized low-density polyethylene during thermo-oxidation in air at 210°C has been studied by a simple technique using a modified gas chromatograph. Of the thirteen antioxidants investigated (phenols, phosphites, phosphonites, sulphides and metal dithiocarbamates), only phenols (radical scavengers) effectively suppress the formation of gaseous degradation products from the polymer during an induction period. The gaseous degradation products were analysed with combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), using direct trapping on the GC column (Porapak® QS). Apart from water and carbon dioxide, the major products are formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, formic and acetic acids. The addition of effective antioxidants strongly reduces the absolute amounts of the degradation products during the induction period, but does not change their relative quantities.