Stabilization of polypropylene

Antioxidants and UV absorbers are vital to the commercialization of polypropylene because of their influence on this polymer's light stability, heat or oxidative stability, processing stability, and gas fading due to nitrogen oxides. The effects of these stabilizers are measured in terms of polypropylene's initial color, color retention, and retention of physical properties when the polymer is exposed to direct weathering and to elevated temperatures. The relative washfastness or resistance to extraction by aqueous systems under various laundering conditions is another important, measurable property of UV absorbers and antioxidants in polypropylene. Such measurements are usually made using stabilized polypropylene molded plaques and monofilaments containing UV absorbers, antioxidants and, often, combinations of the two.