The elixir of life in the chemical industry

Introduction to Antioxidants
Antioxidants are chemicals used to delay or inhibit the oxidation process of polymers, which can extend the lifespan of polymers and are also known as "antioxidants". Broadly speaking, most weak reducing agents belong to the category of antioxidants, classified as high chemical, physical stability, or low toxicity weak reducing agents.
The thermal oxidation process of organic compounds is a series of free radical chain reactions, leading to fundamental changes in the structure and properties of organic compounds. The mechanism of action of antioxidants is essentially to eliminate newly generated free radicals, and according to different modes of action, they can be divided into main antioxidants (eliminating free radicals) and auxiliary antioxidants (decomposing hydroperoxides)
The quality of an antioxidant can be judged from the following aspects:
① Has high antioxidant capacity;
② Good compatibility with resin, no precipitation;
③ Good processing performance, non volatile and non decomposing at the processing temperature of polymers;
④ Good extraction resistance, insoluble in water and oil;
⑤ It is best to have a colorless or light color to avoid polluting the product;
⑥ Non toxic or low toxic;
⑦ The price is low.
But in fact, no antioxidant can fully meet these conditions. Therefore, in practical applications, it is necessary to fully utilize the advantages of various additives based on the types, uses, and processing methods of polymers, and use them in combination to generate synergistic effects.