Interlaboratory test on polymers: Determination of oxidation induction time and oxidation induction temperature by differential scanning calorimetry

Abstract

The results of the oxidation induction time (OIT) tests indicate that the determination of OIT involves a high degree of uncertainty in respect of the measured data, particularly for low OIT values. This would seem to show that OIT measurements have an extremely critical significance for quality control purposes or lifetime predictions of polyolefin parts. Determining oxidation induction temperature (OIT*) could therefore be a valuable alternative for less stabilized polyolefins (low OIT values) in particular. However, OIT* measurement clearly indicates that the ability to distinguish between different samples decreases drastically as OIT* data increase. Generally, the evaluated data can be used to estimate the results of in-house and external OIT/OIT* measurements and their compatibility. This report should therefore support day-to-day work in analytical laboratories where oxidation induction values are measured by DSC.