Oxidation of polyolefins, copper-catalyzed

Implications for the Copper-Catalyzed Oxidation of Polyolefins. Correlation of Contributing Mechanisms. The susceptibility of a polyolefin/copper composite to enhanced oxidation rates will depend critically on the rate of dissolution of copper ions from the copper (oxide) surface and the subsequent rates at which catalytically active concentrations of copper ions can be established within significantly large regions of the polymer matrix. Dissolution of copper with formation of interfacial salt layers appears to occur at very early times (4) (during the induction period) and can be described by overall reactions such as Equation 7 ... 

The presence of the above-mentioned metal ions increases the decomposition rate of hydroperoxides and the overall oxidation rate in the autoxidation of a hydrocarbon to such an extent that even in the presence of antioxidants, the induction period of oxygen uptake is drastically shortened. In such a case, sterically hindered phenols or aromatic amines even at rather high concentrations, do not retard the oxidation rate satisfactorily. A much more efficient inhibition is then achieved hy using metal deactivators, together with antioxidants. Metal deactivators are also known as copper inhihitors, because, in practice, the copper-catalyzed oxidation of polyolefins is by far of greatest importance. This is due to the fact that polyolefins are the preferred insulation material for communication wire and power cables, which generally contain copper conductors. 

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See also in sourсe #XX -- [ ]

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