Chemiluminescence study on the oxidation of several polyolefins—I. Thermal-induced degradation of additive-free polyolefins

• Published in: Polymer degradation and stability Vol. 60; no. 2; pp. 377 - 383
• Main Authors: Setnescu, Radu, Jipa, Silviu, Osawa, Zenjiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.01.1998; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemical reactions and properties; Degradation; Exact sciences and technology; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Low density ethylene polymer; Investigation method; Propylene polymer; High density ethylene polymer; Thermooxidative degradation; Olefin polymer; Chemiluminescence; Property structure relationship; Experimental study; Linear low density ethylene polymer; Thermal stability; Thermal degradation
• ISSN: 0141-3910; 1873-2321
• DOI: 10.1016/S0141-3910(97)00096-7

Chemiluminescence (CL) has been applied to evaluate the oxidation susceptibility of various polyolefins: low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and isotactic polypropylene (i-PP). The intensity of CL emission in inert atmosphere could be related to the previous oxidation level. The thermal stability at 170 °C of the hydroperoxides in LDPE seems to be lower than that in LLDPE or HDPE. The kinetic parameters of the oxidation at 170 °C in oxygen, calculated from CL data, suggest the following stability order: HDPE > LLDPE > LDPE⪢i-PP. The intensity of CL emission was related to the CH 3 content as evaluated by Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy.