A STUDY OF THE PERFORMANCE OF SOME FIRST ROW TRANSITION-METAL COMPLEXES OF 2,2'-BIQUINOLINE AS COLORANTS FOR POLY(VINYL-CHLORIDE) AND POLYETHYLENE

Complexes have been prepared by the reactions of 2,2'-biquinoline with the chlorides of cobalt, nickel and copper in ethanolic solution. The complexes have stoichiometry MLCl(2) where M = Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+ and L is 2,2'-biquinoline. The cobalt and copper complexes have tetrahedral structures while the nickel compound has a pseudo octahedral structur e. The initial decomposition temperature for each of the complexes was obtained from thermogravimetric analysis. The performances of the col oured complexes as colouring materials for poly(vinyl chloride) and po lyethylene have been investigated: weather resistance, chemical and he at stability have been considered. The nickel and cobalt complexes per formed well in all tests and show potential as pigments for poly(vinyl chloride) and polyethylene.