High‐temperature stabilization of polypropylene using hindered phenol–thioester stabilizer combinations, Part 1: Optimization and efficacy via nondust blends

The thermal degradation of unstabilized polypropylene has been investigated under long‐term processing (twin extruder) and thermal aging at 150°C, with additive concentration studies on combinations of an established hindered phenolic antioxidant (pentaerythritol tetrakis (3‐(3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxyphenyl) propionate) [S1010] and two popular thioesters (distearyl‐3,3′‐thiodipropionate [DSTDP] and didodecyl‐3,3′‐thiodipropionate [DLTDP]) using melt flow rate, carbonyl index and powder diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) (oxidation induction time [OIT]) and ultimate embrittlement time (Fracture) on injection‐molded test pieces. It was found that 20:80 phenol:thioester ratios provided the best long‐term thermal stability (LTTS); however, this was the reverse for processing stabilization (80:20), underlining the antioxidant nature of the two stabilizers (long term vs. melt). Melt preblending of the stabilizers (to form a no‐dust blend) gave rise to improved LTTS. DRIFTS FTIR indicated that there was an improvement in preblending the additives, which removed any volatile impurities. Increased additive dispersion and localized potential efficacy in the stabilization cycle is important, as well as possible improved addition of the additives to the extruder rather than fine powder. The data are discussed in relation to the long‐term stabilization of polypropylene in high‐temperature applications such as under the bonnet of automobiles where minimizing stabilizer losses and maximizing synergy are important.