Thermal Oxidation Resistance of Polyethylene Films Containing Copper and Ascorbic Acid

The thermal oxidative resistance of polyethylene films containing ascorbic acid and dispersed copper has been studied by IR spectroscopy. Experiments with the joint incorporation of ascorbic acid and dispersed copper into polyethylene have shown that a small synergistic effect of increasing the thermal oxidative resistance occurs in the resulting composite. A scheme was proposed that explains the reasons for the observed effect of increasing the thermal oxidative resistance of polyethylene. The optimal ratio of copper and ascorbic acid concentrations, leading to an effective increase in the thermal oxidative resistance of the polymer film, has been revealed. The selection of modifiers and their concentrations in the polymer was made in accordance with the main requirements for the composition of oxo-biodegradable additives for polyolefins.