Polymer Analysis Degradation And Stabilization

Polymer Analysis, Degradation & Stabilization

The development of polymers as an important class of material was inhibited at the first by the premature failure of these versatile compounds in many applications. The deterioration of important properties of both natural and synthetic polymers is the result of irreversible changes in composition and structure of polymers molecules. As a result of these reactions, mechanical, electrical and/or aesthetic properties are degraded beyond acceptable limits. It is now generally recognized that stabilization against degradation is necessary if the useful life of polymers is to be extended sufficiently to meet design requirements for long-term applications. Polymers degrade by a wide variety of mechanisms, several of which affect all polymers through to varying degree. This monograph will concentrate on those degradation mechanisms which result from reactions of polymers with oxygen in its various forms and which are accelerated by heat and/or radiation. Those stabilization mechanisms are discussed which are based on an understanding of degradation reaction mechanisms that are reasonably well established. The stabilization of polymers is still undergoing a transition from an art to a science as mechanisms of degradation become more fully developed. A scientific approach to stabilization can only be approached when there is an understanding of the reactions that lead to degradation. Stabilization against biodegradation and burning will not be discussed since there is not a clear understanding of how polymers degrade under these conditions.

New Developments in Polymer Analysis, Stabilisation & Degradation

During the past decade, the field of polymer degradation and stabilization has become a subject of central importance in polymer science and technology. This book provides a fundamental source of information designed for those with only a basic understanding of the background of the field.

The study of polymer degradation and stabilisation is of considerable practical importance as the industrial uses of polymeric materials continue to expand. In this book, the authors lucidly relate technological phenomena to the chemistry and physics of degradation and stabilisation processes. Degradation embraces a variety of technologically important phenomena ranging from relatively low temperature processes such as 'weathering' of plastics, 'fatigue' of rubbers through the processing of polymers in shearing mixers to very high temperature processes such as flammability and ablation. All these technological phenomena have in common certain basic chemical reactions. Thus 'weathering' has its roots in photo-oxidation, 'fatigue' and melt-degradation in mechano-oxidation and flammability, and ablation in ablation in pyrolysis and vapour phase oxidation.

The purpose of this publication is two-fold. In the first place it is intended to review progress in the development of practical stabilising systems for a wide range of polymers and applications. A complemen tary and ultimately more important objective is to accommodate these practical developments within the framework of antioxidant theory, since there can be little question that further major advances in the practice of stabilisation technology will only be possible on a firm mechanistic foundation. With the continual increase in the number of commercial anti oxidants and stabilisers, often functioning by mechanisms not even considered ten years ago, there is a need for a general theory which will allow the potential user to predict the performance of a particular antioxidant structure under specific practical conditions. Any such predictive tool must involve a simplified kinetic approach to inhibited oxidation and, in Chapter 1, Denisov outlines a possible mechanistic approach with the potential to predict the most useful antioxidant to use and the limits of its usefulness. In Chapter 2, Schwetlick reviews the current state of knowledge on the antioxidant mechanisms of the phosphite esters with particular emphasis on their catalytic peroxidolytic activity. Dithiophosphate v vi PREFACE derivatives show a similar behaviour but for quite different reasons and, in Chapter 3, AI-Malaika reviews information available from analytical studies, particularly using 31p_NMR spectroscopy, to elucid ate the complex chemistry that leads to the formation of the antioxidant -active agents.

Provides a comprehensive overview of the science of polymer durability. Discusses the molecular mechanisms of polymer aging and deterioration, emphasizing UV and thermal exposure environments. Describes a variety of analytical techniques for studying degradation, with special emphasis on chemiluminescence. Covers advances in the use of additives and other approaches for enhancing polymer stability. Reviews mechanisms and applications of major classes of stabilizers, and discusses the problem of stabilizer migration and loss. Examines new methods for predicting the aging rate and lifetime of a material.

One of the most important features of the technical progress of this century has been deep and wide penetration of polymeric materials into all fields of human life. But, more than a half century of their use has revealed some shortcomings common to all of these materials. Probably the most important of these is the tendency of most synthetic polymers to degradation. Polymer degradation is, in fact, a series of chemical and physical transformations occurring in the polymer during service, processing or storage, which causes deterioration in valuable properties. Many factors are responsible for polymer degradation, including heat, UV radiation, biological agents and many others. These factors, either separately or together, cause complex processes including cracking, depolymerisation, cross-linking, oxidation, etc. They may cause considerable and often quite rapid deterioration of polymer properties leading to a sharp decrease in their useful life. This volume is organised to provide a wide coverage of new and traditional polymers and their behaviour during degradation, as well as the important chemical and engineering aspects of these materials relative to processing and performance in various applications.