Antioxidants & Antidegradants
Factors Contributing to Polymer Degradation:• All polymers (saturated / highly unsaturated) are vulnerable to reactive degradation factors such as:
- Storage aging
- Oxygen
- Heat
- UV Light & Weathering
- Catalytic degradation due to the presence of heavy metal Ions (Cu, Mn, Fe etc.)
- Dynamic Flex - Fatigue
- Ozone (Static / Dynamic / Intermittent exposure)
• These factors degrade polymers causing substantial changes in the technical properties of the rubber products and ultimately lead to their failure during service or shorten the expected service life in the absence of Antioxidants.
Polymer Degradation Chemistry
• The formation of free radicals (R.) during polymerization, processing or service of the rubber product is the first stage of polymer degradation and is called as ‘Initiation’ of degradation process.
