Polymer Degradation and Stabilization

A) Introduction.- References.- B) Polymer Degradation.- I) Thermal Degradation in the Absence of Oxygen.- 1) Pyrolysis Mechanisms.- 2) Pyrolsis Reactions of Selected Polymers.- a) Pyrolysis of Polyvinyl Chloride.- b) Pyrolysis of Polyoxymethylene.- c) Pyrolysis of Polypropylene.- d) Pyrolysis of Copolymers and Polymer Blend.- II) Oxidative Degradation - An Historical Introduction.- 1) Thermal Oxidation.- 2) Photooxidation.- a) Outdoor Weathering.- b) Mechanisms for Photooxidation.- 3) Miscellaneous Degradation Reactions.- III) Recent Developments in Oxidative Degradation.- 1) Photooxidation of Polyethylene.- 2) Photooxidation of Polypropylene.- 3) Photooxidation of Blends of Polyethylene and Polypropylene.- 4) Thermal and Photooxidation of Polystyrene.- 5) Degradation of Bisphenol-A-Polycarbonate.- 6) Thermal and Photooxidation of Polyacetals.- IV) Degradation by Hydrolysis.- References.- C) Stabilization Against Non-oxidative Thermal Degradation.- I) Stabilization by Structural Modification.- II) Stabilization by Copolymerization.- III) Stabilization by Crosslinking.- IV) Stabilization with Additives.- References.- D) Stabilization Against Thermal Oxidation.- I) Hydrocarbon Polymers.- 1) Short-term and Long-term Antioxidants.- 2) Chain-breaking Antioxidants.- a) Free Radical Traps.- b) Labile Hydrogen Donors.- 3) Preventative Antioxidants.- a) Hydroperoxide Decomposers.- b) Metal Deactivators.- 4) Antioxidant Combinations.- a) Additive Effects.- b) Antagonistic Effects.- c) Synergism.- 5) Non-migrating Antioxidants.- a) Carbon Black as a Thermal Antioxidant.- b) Bound or Grafted Antioxidants.- 6) Stabilization by Structure Modification.- 7) Stabilization Against Burning.- II) Non-hydrocarbon Polymers.- References.- E) Stabilization Against Degradation by Radiation.- I) Stabilization Against Ultraviolet-Induced Degradation.- 1) Light Screens.- 2) Ultraviolet Absorbers.- 3) Radical Traps.- 4) Quenchers.- 5) Stabilizer Combinations.- 6) Stabilization by Polymer Modification.- II) Stabilization Against Ionizing Radiation.- References.- F) Stabilization Against Degradation by Ozone.- I) Stabilization by Waxes.- II) Stabilization by Antiozonants.- III) Stabilization by Structure Modification.- References.- G) Test Procedures.- I) Methodology.- II) Properties Used to Evaluate Degradation.- III) Test for Thermal Degradation.- 1) Methods for Measuring Nonoxidative Thermal Oxidation.- 2) Test Methods for Measuring Thermal Oxidation.- a) Test for Measuring Stability During Processing.- b) Tests for Measuring Long-term Stability.- IV) Weatherability Tests.- 1) Outdoor Weatherability Tests.- 2) Indoor Weatherability Tests.- V) Miscellaneous Test Procedures.- References.- H) Future Trends.