CRITICAL STABILIZER CONCENTRATIONS IN OXIDIZING POLYMERS

The concept of a critical antioxidant or inhibitor concentration was introduced more than 30 years ago. Since numerous studies seemed to give it considerable theoretical and experimental support, it found rather broad acceptance. In this work it is shown, however, that the theoretical derivations of the concept are not valid. Possible reasons for the 'no-effect concentration' sometimes observed with polymer melts and, more often, with high molecular mass antioxidants in polymer solids, are discussed.