Synergistic effect of maleimido phenyl urea derivatives mixed with some commercial stabilizers on the efficiency of thermal stabilization of PVC

Four novel antimicrobial maleimido phenyl urea stabilizers 1–4 were synthesized from N-4-(chlorocarbonyl) phenyl] maleimide with phenyl urea and its derivatives (p-methyl, o-chloro and p-carboxy). The effect of mixing maleimido phenyl urea stabilizer 2 with each of the reference stabilizers, dibasic lead carbonate (DBLC), cadmium-barium-zinc stearate (Cd-Ba-Zn stearate) or n-octyltin mercaptide (n-OTM), on the stabilization efficiency in thermal degradation of rigid PVC at 180 °C in air, has been investigated. Mixing was effected in the range of 0–100 wt% of stabilizer 2 relative to each of the reference stabilizers. The stabilizing efficiency was evaluated by measuring the length of the thermal stability period (Ts), the period during which no detectable amount of hydrogen chloride gas could be observed, and also from the rate of dehydrochlorination as measured by continuous potentiometric determination, and by the extent of discoloration of the degraded polymer samples. The results show a true synergistic effect from the combination of stabilizer 2 with any of the reference stabilizers. Mixing of the stabilizers improves the Ts values, decreases the rate of dehydrochlorination and lowers the extent of discoloration of the polymer. The maximum synergism was attained when stabilizer 2 is mixed with either of the three reference stabilizers in equivalent weight ratio (50%/50%). The observed synergism may be attributed to the different mechanisms by which the investigated and the reference stabilizers work.