Thermal oxidation of nonstabilized and stabilized polymers and chemiluminescence

The chemiluminescence under isothermal and nonisothermal conditions accompanying the oxidation of some polymers (polyolefins, polyamides, and polysaccharides) has been examined from the viewpoint of its relationship with the rate of oxidation. The chemical structure of a given type of polymer plays a decisive role in the resulting shape of the chemiluminescence curves. In the presence of an antioxidant, the inhibition periods of oxidation are shifted to longer times and/or higher temperatures. This shift is directly proportional to the type and concentration of stabilizer. Attention has also been paid to the impact of the average molar mass on the oxidizability of the macromolecular material. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 648–660, 2004 The chemiluminescence under isothermal and nonisothermal conditions accompanying the oxidation of some polymers (polyolefins, polyamides, and polysaccharides) has been examined from the viewpoint of its relationship with the rate of oxidation. The position and applicability of the chemiluminescence method, among other approaches, to the investigation of polymer thermal oxidation is shown to the right.