Rapid determination of oligomeric hindered amine light stabilizers in polymeric materials

Hindered amine light stabilizers are essential for the stabilization of synthetic polymers, particularly for materials used for outdoor applications. Although up to now a considerable number of studies dealing with the analytics of this class of stabilizers had been published, especially the determination of oligomeric hindered amine light stabilizers is still an analytical challenge. In the current work, a fast and simple liquid chromatographic method for the quantitative determination of oligomeric hindered amine light stabilizers is presented. A key aspect of this method is their completely different retention behavior depending on the pH, enabling a single peak elution approach by a pH gradient run. This allows a quantitation with simple UV detection independent of the actual oligomeric composition. Calibration curves within the concentration range relevant for the analysis of real polymer samples (LOQ = 70 mg/L) were constructed with R ² values above 0.99. Spiked extracts from polyolefin samples showed recovery rates between 97.3 and 102.9% for five different commercial hindered amine light stabilizers. Relative standard deviations were between 2.0 and 3.9%. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the employed approach can be easily adapted for mass spectrometry detection.     

The determination of small amounts of organic hydroperoxides with triphenylphosphine

A method for the determination of hydroperoxides has been devised which combines the sensitivity of iodimetric methods with the accuracy of the tin(II) reduction procedure. The hydroperoxide is reduced with a modest excess of triphenylphosphine (TPP) in cyclohexane solution. The amount of reagent consumed is followed by a g.l.c. procedure which measures the change in peak area ratio of TPP and an internal standard, hexacosane. The method has been used successfully with oxidized glycerides and simple esters of oleic and linoleic acid for which the Sully iodimetric method gives low results.     

Synergism of hindered amine light stabilizers and UV-absorbers

The synergism of hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS) and UV-absorbers is very important in the practical photo-stabilization of polymers. As very little is known, however, the relationship between the composition of the mixture of the two kinds of light stabilizer and its photo-stabilizing efficiency was investigated in four common polymers. A high level of synergism was observed in polypropylene, high density polyethylene and ABS resin. A moderate synergistic effect was obtained in polystyrene. The maximum efficiency was observed at mixing ratios of hindered amine light stabilizer to UV-absorber of about 75:25 in polypropylene and high density polyethylene, 90:10 in ABS resin and 80:20 in crystal polystyrene.The synergism is due to different stabilizing mechanisms of hindered amine light stabilizer and UV-absorber, and is explained by the diffusion of very effective hindered amine light stabilizer from the polymer bulk, which is protected by the UV-absorber, towards the surface layer where photo-oxidation proceeds.     

Antagonism between hindered amine light stabilizers and sulfur-containing compounds

Antagonism between hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS) and sulfur-containing compounds has been examined using esr and uv spectroscopic techniques. Evidence is presented to show that formation of nitroxyl from HALS and/or its disappearance is not affected by a sulfur-containing compound itself, but considerably by its acidic transformation product. From the results obtained in this study, a new mechanism of antagonism is proposed.     

The effect of hindered amine light stabilizers on the photooxidative stability of high-density polyethylene

The photoprotective effectiveness of various polymeric and nonpolymeric hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS) was determined by exposing samples of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containing these additives to ultraviolet (UV) light and measuring the resultant oxygen uptake characteristics. Values of the initial quantum yield for oxygen uptake calculated for these formulations indicate that the higher molecular weight HALS compounds are less effective photostabilizers than the nonpolymeric HALS, and this is partly attributable to their decreased mobility in the polymer matrix. It was further found that the addition of an ultraviolet absorber (UVA) to a formulation containing a polymeric HALS compound enhances its photostability, although this phenomenon may be partly due to synergism between the UVA and the antioxidant, the latter having been added as part of the base stabilization. The antagonism which exists between certain sulfur-containing antioxidants and HALS compounds was also investigated and it was found that the lower molecular weight sulfur-containing antioxidants exhibit the greatest degree of antagonism. The results confirm that the mobility in the polymer matrix of the stabilizer system can serve as an explanation of its effectiveness. The article provides evidence that the technique of oxygen uptake monitoring is a sensitive and rapid method of assessment of polymer photostability in the presence of stabilizer systems.     

Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial properties of multifunctional hindered amine light stabilizers

A series of novel hindered amine light stabilizers containing an N-halamine moiety were designed and synthesized. Their structures were characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR, and MS. The compounds were tested for antibacterial activity against Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coll. At a concentration of 0.5 mmol/L, these compounds all exhibited satisfactory antibacterial activity against all the three types of bacteria.     

The oxidation of hindered amine light stabilizers to nitroxy radicals in solution and in polymers

Cyclohexane and three polyolefins (PE, PP and EPM) have been oxidized by γ-irradiation, and the concentration of nitroxy radicals derived from a typical HALS added either before or after irradiation has been studied by ESR spectroscopy. The results indicate that HALS is rapidly oxidized by peroxy radicals under irradiation and that afterwards it can be oxidized more slowly by hydroperoxides. This last reaction is, however, very limited.     

Synthesis and characterization of core-shell polyacrylate particles containing hindered amine light stabilizers

A polymerizable hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS) 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidin-4-yl acrylate (PMPA) was synthesized through transesterification of 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidin-4-ol (PMP) with methyl acrylate (MA). Core-shell latex particles containing HALS moieties in the shell phase were prepared by two-stage seeded emulsion polymerization from n-butyl acrylate (BA), methyl methacrylate (MMA) and PMPA. The Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) analysis showed that PMPA monomer was successfully prepared and was effectively involved in the polyacrylate particles. The surface composition was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the results indicated that HALS-containing groups could be distributed on the surfaces of the particles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed that the particles obtained presented a core-shell structure with a particle size around 100 nm. Two glass transition temperatures (T_g), assigned to the core phase and the shell phase of the particles, respectively, were observed for both HALS-containing and HALS-free particles, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In addition, the T_g value for the shell phase of HALS-containing particles was 13 °C lower than that of HALS-free particles, indicating the presence of random copolymer between MMA monomer and PMPA comonomer in the shell phase. The thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and differential thermal gravimetric (DTG) results showed that HALS-containing particles provided an improvement in thermal stability in comparison to HALS-free particles.     

A new antagonism between hindered amine light stabilizers and acidic compounds including phenolic antioxidant

Hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS) are known to show antagonism with acidic compounds including phenolic antioxidants. In this study it was found that a hydroperoxide-decomposing reaction by HALS is accelerated in the presence of an acidic compound, and that the decomposition proceeds homolytically. Even weak acids such as a phenolic antioxidant induced the antagonism. On processing plastics at a high temperature, it is thus important to decompose hydroperoxides heterolytically as efficiently as possible. The data found in this study suggest that salts of HALS with an acid such as 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT) may produce free radicals which accelerate the decomposition of plastics. The role of HALS nitroxides in the decomposition of hydroperoxides is also discussed.     

The determination of small amounts of vanadium in the presence of large amounts of uranium

To eliminate the color interference of large amounts of uranium in the determination of vanadium by the Hamner method, the vanadium was separated prior to titration by the extraction of vanadium cupferrate with chloroform. The chloroform extract was evaporated with sulfuric acid and the excess cupferron removed by oxidation with nitric acid and perchloric acid. The vanadium was reduced with ferrous ammonium, sulfate solution, the excess ferrous ion oxidized with ammonium persulfate, and the vanadium (IV) titrated with 0.02 N potassium permanganate. As little as 1.02 mg of vanadium in the presence of 5 g of uranium oxide was determined accurately by this method.     

Photostabilization study of ethylene-butyl acrylate copolymers functionalized in the molten state with hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS)

Hindered Amine Light Stabilizers (HALS), N-methylated and O-alkylhydroxylamine, were successfully anchored onto an ethylene-co-butyl acrylate (BA) by a transesterification reaction in the molten state. The content of HALS bonded to the EBA was calculated from the atomic ratio (N/C) determined by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). After reaction times of 5–30 min in the molten state the content of bonded HALS attained values from 0.17 to 0.63%. The modified EBA with HALS were studied by Chemiluminescence emission and the photostabilization effect was evaluated under accelerated ageing in the presence of pesticides. The antioxidant effect of HALS bonded to EBA was evaluated by determination of Carbonyl Index (CI) and retention of elongation at break as a function of exposure time and pesticide treatment. The stability of the EBA with anchored HALS exhibited higher performance as shown by low CI-values and correlated with the content of bound HALS and the thermal history of the materials. Also, mechanical properties correlated well with the CI results and the photostabilization of bound HALS was effective until 3150 h of exposure time using pesticides.     

Quantitative analysis of hindered amine light stabilizers by CZE with UV detection and quadrupole TOF mass spectrometric detection

The current work describes the development of a CZE method with quadrupole QTOF‐MS detection and UV detection for the quantitation of Cyasorb 3529, a common hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS), in polymer materials. Analysis of real polymer samples revealed that the oligomer composition of Cyasorb 3529 changes during processing, a fact hampering the development of a straightforward method for quantitation based on calibration with a Cyasorb 3529 standard. To overcome this obstacle in‐depth investigations of the oligomer composition of this HALS using QTOF‐MS and QTOF‐MS/MS had to be performed whereby 22 new oligomer structures, in addition to the ten structures already described, were identified. Finally, a CZE method for quantitative analysis of this HALS was developed starting with a comprehensive characterization of a Cyasorb 3529 standard using CZE‐QTOF‐MS, subsequently allowing the correct assignment of most Cyasorb 3529 oligomers in an electropherogram with UV detection. Employing the latter detection technique and hexamethyl‐melamine as internal standard, peak areas obtained for the melamine could be correlated with those from the triazine ring, the UV‐absorbing unit present in the HALS. This approach finally allowed proper quantitation of the single oligomers of Cyasorb 3529, an imperative for the quantitative assessment of this HALS in real polymer samples.     

A study of the photolysis of a commercial hindered amine light stabilizer

The photolysis of a commercial hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS) has been studied with a range of experimental methods. The results show that the stabilizer is easily photolyzed and photolysis mechanisms are proposed.     

Sine-wave polarographic determination of small amounts of indium in the presence of large amounts of cadmium,lead or tin

The sine-wave polarographic determination of small amounts of indium in the presence of large amounts of cadmium, lead or tin was investigated. The determination of indium in cadmium was possible down to 0.01 % in 1 M potassium iodide at pH 2, the determination of indium in lead was possible down to 0.02 % in 1 M potassium chloride at pH 2, and the determination of indium in tin was possible down to 0.3 % in 1 M hydrochloric acid and down to 0.2 % in 2 M perchloric acid with 0.5 M sodium chloride.     

The reduction and determination of small amounts of rhenium-VII

Summary Investigations on the reduction of rhenium-VII to rhenium-V have been carried out. The use of stannous chloride in hydrochloric acid solution was not found suitable as the basis for the quantitative determination of the element. The most satisfactory reductant was found to be bismuth amalgam in 18N sulphuric acid. A method is outlined for the determination of milligram amounts of rhenium ranging from 0.1 to 10 mg with a standard deviation of ± 0.02 mg, using this as a basis. The procedure, with only slight modification, can be extended to the determination of microgram amounts of the element.Measurement of absorption spectra indicates that in hydrochloric acid solution a complex is formed between the acid and rhenium-V, but that the stabilisation of rhenium-V by oxalic acid does not arise from the formation of a complex.

---

Zusammenfassung Untersuchungen über die Reduktion von Rhenium(VII) zu Rhenium(V) wurden durchgeführt. Zinn(II)-chlorid in salzsaurer Lösung bewährt sich für die quantitative Bestimmung des Rheniums nicht. Als bestes Reduktionsmittel erwies sich Wismutamalgam in 18-n Schwefelsäure. Auf dieser Basis wurde ein Verfahren zur Miüigrammbestimmung von Rhenium ausgearbeitet, das im Bereich zwischen 0,1 und 10 mg Abweichungen von ± 0,02 mg zeigt. Mit nur geringen Abänderungen läßt es sieh auch zur Bestimmung von Mikrogrammengen verwenden.Messungen der Absorptionsspektren ergaben, daß sich in salzsaurer Lösung ein Komplex aus Säure und Rhenium(V) bildet, daß aber die Stabilisierung des 5wertigen Rheniums durch Oxalsäure nicht auf der Bildung eines Komplexes beruht.

---

Résumé Recherches sur la réduction du rhénium VII en rhénium V. On a établi que la solution de chlorure stanneux dans l'acide chlorhydrique n'est pas un réactif approprié à la détermination quantitative de l'élément. On a montré que le réducteur le plus satisfaisant était l'amalgame de bismuth dans l'acide sulfurique 18 N. Les auteurs esquissent une méthode basée sur l'emploi de ce réactif pour le microdosage du rhénium en quantités variant de 0,1 à 10 mg avec un écart type de ± 0,02 mg. La technique légèrement modifiée peut être étendue au dosage de quantités de l'ordre de grandeur du microgramme.Les mesures de spectres d'absorption montrent qu'en solution d'acide chlorhydrique il se forme un complexe entre l'acide et le rhénium V mais que par contre la stabilisation du rhénium V par l'acide oxalique ne résulte pas de la formation d'un complexe.

---

---

To Professor Dr.Hans Lieb, University of Graz, for his 70th birthday.

---

One of us (H. S.) would like to take this opportunity to thank the Department of Chemistry of the Queen's University of Belfast for the facilities granted in carrying out this work.     

Reactions of stabilizer compounds. IV. ESR studies of the formation of stable nitroxyl radicals in the photooxidation of polypropylene containing hindered amine light stabilizers

ESR studies of the formation of stable nitroxyl radicals in the photooxidation of polypropylene containing 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-hydroxypiperidine (II) and the commercial light stabilizer bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl)sebacate (III) are described. Spectra of the stable nitroxyl radicals in solid polymer and in solution after extraction from the polymer were obtained. The extract from photooxidized polypropylene containing the bifunctional stabilizer (III) showed only the mononitroxyl radical. The possible formation of polymer-bonded nitroxyl radicals from (III) is discussed.     

Quantitation of hindered amine light stabilizers in plastic materials by high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometric detection using electrospray ionization and atmospheric pressure photoionization

In this work new high performance liquid chromatographic methods in combination with mass spectrometry have been developed for the quantitation of hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS) which are commonly used as monomeric and oligomeric species for stabilization of plastic materials. These analytes are difficult to separate under traditional reversed phase conditions. In the present study new silica-based pH stable reversed phases that had become available recently were investigated for HALS analysis, and turned out to be well suited employing mobile phases at a pH of around 11 adjusted by addition of ammonia. Detection was done by mass spectrometry employing both time-of-flight and triple quadrupole mass analyzers. The performance of electrospray ionization (ESI) as well as atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) was investigated and compared. Despite the high pH of the mobile phase, an excellent ionization could be obtained in the positive ion mode. ESI provided slightly lower limits of quantitation (on average a factor of 2) in comparison with APPI. The method allowed the quantitation of a range of different HALS down to 0.05–0.005% (depending on the HALS) in polymeric materials. Sample preparation consisted in dissolving the sample in toluene and precipitation of the polymer with acetone. The procedure can be routinely applied to aging tests of plastic materials in order to predict the lifetime of plastic components.