Oxidative degradation and stabilisation of polymers

The aim of this review is to present a coherent treatment of the fundamental aspects of the science that underpins current technological practices, and future advances, in the stabilisation of synthetic organic polymers. Aspects of polymer oxidation are introduced first before discussing the role of antioxidants, with numerous examples , to illustrate their basic mechanisms of action. The state of the art is discussed with particular emphasis on recent development and progress. (C) 2003 IoM Communications Ltd. Published by Maney for the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and ASM International.