New approaches to the melt stabilization of polyolefins

Polymer producers and manufacturers of downstream products are interested in new developments in stabilization technology that may help to maintain or improve the physical and aesthetic properties of their new products. Representative examples of improvements might comprise of better maintenance of melt flow rates, lower initial color and better color maintenance, enhanced long term thermal and light stability, inhibition of gas fade discoloration, enhanced additive compatibility, resistance to interactions with other additives, reduced taste and odor and the suppression of visual imperfections (gels). Novel approaches for the processing stability of polymers and respective end properties are discussed and compared to the traditional systems normally based on a combination of a phenolic antioxidant and a phosphorous based melt processing stabilizer. The impact of these new stabilization chemistries has been examined, not necessarily to simply substitute existing stabilizer systems, but also to develop new markets and opportunities. The performance of these powerful stabilization concepts and their applicability to new markets and opportunities will be discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.