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Thermal and oxidative degradation of polymers
Author(s) -
Hawkins W. L.
Publication year - 1964
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.760040309
Subject(s) - polymer , degradation (telecommunications) , polymer degradation , thermal oxidation , stabilizer (aeronautics) , materials science , oxidative phosphorylation , chemical engineering , reaction mechanism , thermal , polymer chemistry , organic chemistry , photochemistry , chemistry , nanotechnology , catalysis , composite material , biochemistry , mechanical engineering , telecommunications , physics , computer science , engineering , layer (electronics) , meteorology
Oxidation of many polymers occurs by a free‐radical, chain mechanism similar to that developed for the oxidation of volatile hydrocarbons. The rate at which various polymers oxidize and the extent of the reaction is influenced both by the physical and by the chemical structure of the particular polymer. Important morphological changes may also occur as a result of oxidation. Polymer degradation by oxidative reactions can be inhibited effectively at several stages in the over‐all reaction. Synergistic combinations in which each component of a stabilizer system inhibits primarily at one of these stages are particularly effective.