Fullerene C60 Derivatives as High-Temperature Inhibitors of Oxidative Degradation of Saturated Hydrocarbons

Fullerene C-60 is a free-radical scavenger, but its antioxidant activity is limited to some polymers and hydrocarbons at high temperatures. Here we demonstrate that for high temperature oxidation of, saturated-hydrocarbons, the conjugates of C-60 with simple phenols are more active antioxidants than the building blocks (pristine C-60 and phenols) used alone. The overall kinetic parameters calculated by the Ozawa-Flynn-Wall method for nonisothermal oxidation of Model hydrocarbons: saturated stearic acid (STA) and polyunsaturated linolenic acid (LNA) indicate that C-60 and its derivatives are effective antioxidants during oxidation of pure STA, but:not during oxidation of LNA. These findings indicate that conjugates of C-60 and phenols are candidates for potential use in base oils or lubricants as new hybrid antioxidants able to work at temperatures above 100 degrees C.