ALUMINUM-CHLORIDE [ALIAS ITS REACTION PRODUCT(S) WITH ETHANOL] FOR THE STABILIZATION OF POLY(VINYL CHLORIDE)

Aluminum chloride is shown to react with ethanol at room temperature t o form a product or product mixture that can act as a thermal stabiliz er for poly(vinyl chloride). The stabilization is revealed by a decrea se in the rate of thermal dehydrochlorination at 190 degrees C and by a reduction in the average length of the resulting polyene sequences. These observations clarify a report by previous workers in which the s ame effects were said to ensue from an aluminum-chloride-promoted addi tion reaction of the polyenes with HCl. A possible mechanism of action is suggested for the stabilizer formed from aluminum chloride and eth anol. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Limited.