Mechano‐chemical degradation and stabilization of polymers

When polymers are subjected to sheer, macroalkyl radicals are formed which lead to accelerated oxidation. This may occur in the polymer melt during processing or under conditions of mechanical fatigue at lower temperatures (e.g., in cross‐linked rubbers). Under these conditions, chain‐breaking electron acceptor (CB‐A) antioxidants are found to be relatively more effective than under conditions of thermal oxidation and the evidence suggests that the reduced and oxidized couples of some antioxidants, for example, phenol/phenoxyl or hydroxylamine/nitroxyl, can deactivate radicals catalytically.