INHIBITED OXIDATION OF POLYETHYLENE POLYM ETHYLSTYRENE BLENDS

Oxidation of polyethylene - polymethylstyrene blends containing the an tioxidant phenyl-beta-naphthylamine was studied. It was found that the parameters of inhibited oxidation, such as critical (minimum effectiv e) concentration of the antioxidant and apparent rate constant of its consumption show extrema with variation of the blend composition. The maximum of the critical concentration and the minimum of the rate cons tant fall within the range of low polymethylstyrene concentrations. Th e studies demonstrated the opposite character of the changes in satura ted vapor pressure of phenyl-beta-naphthylamine over the polymer (char acterizing mobility of its molecules in the polymer) and its critical concentration in the blend.