Fractal analysis of inhibited oxidative thermal degradation of polyethylene

A fractal interpretation is proposed for the effect of the structural stabi lization of polymers. This interpretation is based on the concept of the st ructure of a polymer as an assembly of the Witten-Saunder clusters, and tha t of the molecule of a gaseous diffusant, as a random walk. This approach e nabled elucidation of the main specific features of the behavior of high-de nsity polyethylene modified with finely ground Fe/FeO mixture under thermal aging and semiquantitative assessment of the effects observed. Of special note is a very large difference in the rates of oxidative thermal degradati on for fractal and Euclidean objects.