Polymer-reactive antioxidant reactions during processing

The above approach of mechanochemically initiated addition of reactive antioxidants on different polymers, such as rubbers and unsaturated thermoplastics such as ABS is illustrated here for thiol-containing antioxidants. For example, using thiol compounds (37) and (38) as the reactive antioxidants, Kharasch-type addition of the thiol function to the polymer double bond takes place during melt processing to give bound antioxidant adduct (see reaction 7) the polymer becomes much more substantive under aggressive environments. 

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