Characteristics of good stabilizers and methods of evaluation

In a previous paper, the theory of polyolefin stabilization and the major factors contributing to degradation were discussed. This paper reviews the methods of test employed to date, the characteristics of a good stabilization system, and the experimental work we propose to use to study the problem. The characteristics of a stabilizer which are reviewed are: color, melt temperature, solubility, resistance to extraction, migration, phase state, structural arrangement, energy considerations, and thermodynamic potential. The methods of test reviewed include: pedestal testing, oven aging, oxygen uptake, testing under stress, melt flow testing, thermal analysis by DSC, thermal analysis by TGA, color change, torque rheometry, and aged elongation. Our approach will be to quantify the effects of antioxidant, metal deactivator, and blowing agent on stability by doing differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); to study fracture surfaces with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to study diffusion rate of the stabilizer and reaction rate of the degradation process; and to use dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) to measure the change in loss modulus with aging.
INTRODUCTION In part I of this paper the importance of eliminating circumferential cracks due to oxidative cracking in telephone insulation was explained. That paper dealt with the theory of stabilization [...]