Ginkgo biloba leaf extract: A natural and eco-friendly stabilizer for enhancing the thermal and oxidative stability of polyethylene

To improve the antioxidant capacity of polyethylene (PE), ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GBLE) was introduced into the PE matrix as a natural stabilizer for the first time. The effect of GBLE on the thermal oxidation stability, thermal stability, processing stability, mechanical properties, and long-term aging resistance of PE during multiple extrusion processing was investigated. The oxidation induction time (OIT) results showed that the addition of GBLE improved the thermal oxidation stability and long-term aging resistance of the PE matrix even after multiple extrusions. Additionally, thermogravimetric analysis revealed that GBLE significantly enhanced the thermal stability of the polymer matrix. These improvements could be attributed to the potent free radical scavenging efficiency of GBLE. OIT tests also confirmed GBLE’s resistance to extraction from the PE matrix, as well as its antioxidant activity after extraction. Moreover, the introduction of GBLE effectively enhanced the processing stability of the PE matrix, with the melt flow rate of PE-GBLE 2.0 decreasing by only about 0.17 g/10 min from the first extrusion to the fifth extrusion. Furthermore, the addition of GBLE could still maintain the good mechanical performance of the matrix after multiple extrusions. All results demonstrated that GBLE is an effective and natural multifunctional stabilizer for PE. Graphical Abstract