LIFETIME PREDICTION OF ABS POLYMERS BASED ON THERMOANALYTICAL DATA

The service life of ABS polymer, stabilized by 2-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4- hydroxyanilino)-4,6- bis(octylthio)-1,3,5-triazine and containing 50% of a modifying rubber component, was estimated from oxidative inductio n times measured by DSC in isothermal mode in the temperature interval 140-170 degrees C. The lifetime of ABS powder at the actual temperatu re of drying was predicted by linear extrapolation according to Arrhen ius. However, the extrapolated value was much longer than the real lif etime determined from the long-term oven aging tests at 70 and 90 degr ees C, simulating the industrial drying process. The effect of changes in the apparent activation energy of oxidation due to antioxidant con sumption during polymer aging is discussed.