REVIEW OF BASIC OXIDATION PROCESSES IN ELASTOMERS.

Abstract

This literature-based review is primarily concerned with the nature of the chemical reactions involved in the oxidation, degradation, and stabilization of elastomers. The mechanism of unhibited autoxidation (based on model compound studies) is compared with the more complicated sequence of reactions observed in the retarded autoxidation of elastomers which occurs in the presence of antioxidants. The oxidative degradation of physical properties is considered in terms of the resultant effect of the two competing processes of chain scission and crosslinking. The role of antioxidants as stabilizers against oxidative degradation is discussed from the standpoint of the mechanisms by which different types of stabilizers protect elastomers during aging and use. 64