Styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer light stabilizers

Because of the difficulty of melt processing the homopolymer, acrylonitrile is usually copolymerized to achieve a desirable thermal stability, melt flow, and physical properities. As a comonomer, acrylonitrile contributes hardness, rigidity, solvent and light resistance, gas impermeability, and the ability to orient. These properties have led to many copol5mier application developments since 1950. The utility of acrylonitrile [107-13-1] in thermoplastics was first realized in its copolymer with styrene (CsHs) [100-42-5], in the late 1950s. Styrene is the largest volume of comonomer for acrylonitrile in thermoplastic applications. Styrene—acrylonitrile copolymers [9003-54-7] are inherently transparent plastics with high heat... 

Most ABS is made by emulsion polymerization. A polybutadiene or nitrile rubber latex is prepared, and styrene plus acrylonitrile are grafted upon the elastomer in emulsion. The effect of rubber particle size in ABS graft copolymer on physical properties is the subject Chapter 22 by C. F. Parsons and E. L. Suck. Methyl methacrylate was substituted for acrylonitrile in ABS by R. D. Deanin and co-workers. They found a better thermoprocessability, lighter color, and better ultraviolet light stability. 

Poly[styrene-co-(2-hydroxy-4 -vinylbenzophenone)] was less efficient in PS than 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone [334]. Similarly, PE films doped with 4-dodecyloxy-2-hydroxybenzophenone (0.1 mol%) were more stable than PE doped with copolymers of ethylene with polymerisable benzophenones having a comparable content of chromophores [54]. The efficiency of a SAN type LS, a terpolymer of 2-hydroxy-4-(4-vinylbenzyloxy)benzophenone with acrylonitrile and styrene did not exceed that of conventional LS [84]. No efficiency loss of 2-hydroxy-4-methacryloyloxybenzophenone in ABS was observed after bonding into a terpolymer with styrene and acrylonitrile. The homopolymer was slightly inferior to both the monomer and terpolymer [84]. A better protection of PP was provided by poly[(2-hydroxy-3-allyl-4-methoxyphenylbenzophenone)-co-dibutyl maleate] than with 2-hydroxy-3-allyl-4-methoxybenzophenone [335] (stabilization tests were performed in the presence of phenolic antioxidants). A comparable or better light stabilizing efficiency of poly[vinyl acetate-co-(5-methylacryloyloxy salicylate)] or poly(2-allylphenyl salicylate-co-dioctyl maleate) than that of alkyl-phenyl salicylates was observed in polyolefins [335]. 

The stabilization of poly(vinyl chloride) against light has been reviewed by Wirth and Andreas. Detailed mechanistic studies have indicated the importance of peroxides in the process of photo-oxidation. It was suggested that protection could be successfully achieved by exclusion of radiation of A < 380 nm. E.s.r. examination of irradiated samples demonstrated the intervention of peroxides in the mechanisms with the ultimate formation of carbonyl groups which caused chain scission by Norrish cleavage. Photo-oxidation of samples of poly(vinyl chloride) modified by incorporation of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene, and methyl methacrylate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers has been investigated. Discolouration was accelerated by the presence of the modifiers. Thermal pre-treatment accelerated photo-induced decomposition. Mechanical properties were also examined, and scanning electron microscopy showed surface defects due to decomposition of the modifier. ... 

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