Retardation of oxidation of polyamide-12 by triphenyl stibine additives☆

Abstract The rate of O 2 absorption in the oxidation of PA-12 in the presence of various amounts of triphenyl stibine has been investigated in the interval 170–300°. The dependence of the initial rate of oxidation of PA-12 vs. the triphenyl stibine concentration is described by a curve for which a minimum is observed at a triphenyl stibine concentration of 0·01 mole/kg (240°). This additive does not inhibit oxidation of the polymer at 170°; as the temperature rises, the inhibiting efficiency increases. The observed effects are attributed to the participation of radical, generated during degradation of the additive, in steps of termination and initiation of the oxidation chain of PA-12.