Degradation and stabilization of high molecular weight polyethylene in solution

The changes in the molar mass of high molecular weight polyethylene, in o‐dichlorobenzene, with time are examined using viscometry. The results show that the molar mass decreases with time and that the observed decay can be satisfactorily explained by a simple degradation model. Commercial antioxidants can inhibit the degradation process if the appropriate concentration is chosen. Thus, at very low concentrations a polynuclear phenol shows good antioxidant behavior but this decreases with an increase in concentration due to direct oxidation of the inhibitor. Conversely, zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate shows the best stabilizing activity which increases with concentration. The results are explained on the basis of the established mechanistic action of these compounds and show that viscometry is not an accurate method for measuring the molar mass of high molecular weight polyethylene samples unless the appropriate conditions are chosen. Even with the best inhibitor, some degradation is still observed.