Photo-stabilisation of commercial polypropylene by piperidine compounds: The rôle of stable free radicals

The photo-stabilisation of commercial polypropylene by a hindered piperidine stabiliser, bis [2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl] sebacate, a model piperidine compound, 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinol, and its corresponding N-oxy derivative is examined using luminescence and ESR spectroscopy. All three compounds inhibit the photolysis of the luminescent α,β-unsaturated carbonyl impurity groups present in the polymer. ESR spectroscopy shows that the hindered piperidine stabiliser operates by the same mechanism as that of the stable hindered piperidino-N-oxy radical compound. Possible mechanisms whereby the piperidine compounds inhibit the photolysis of the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl groups are also discussed.     

Photo-stabilising performance of a hindered piperidine compound in polypropylene film: Anti-oxidant/light stabiliser effects

The effect of various primary and secondary anti-oxidants and light stabiliser systems on the photo-stabilising performance of a hindered piperidine compound bis[2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl]-sebacate, in polypropylene film has been examined. None of the anti-oxidants or light stabilisers gave an additive effect with the hindered piperidine compound. In many cases antagonistic effects were observed. The effects observed are discussed in relation to our current understanding of the mechanistic behaviour of these hindered piperidine systems.     

Photo-stabilising action of metal chelate stabilisers in polypropylene: Part VIII—Pigment interactions

The interaction of four metal chelates—Cyasorb UV 1084, Irganox 1425, Irgastab 2002 and Sanduvor NPU—with five commercial pigments, anatase and rutile titanium dioxide, cadmium yellow, Vynamon Blue B and Monolite Yellow G, is examined using infra-red spectroscopy. Individually, four pigments offer some stabilisation to processed polypropylene. Their order of stabilisation is Monolite Yellow G > Vynamon Blue B > cadmium yellow ～ rutile titanium dioxide. Anatase titanium dioxide showed mild sensitising action. When mixed with the metal chelates their order of stabilisation is variable. The effect of a commercial antioxidant, Irganox 1010, is also examined. It is found that the antioxidant tends to suppress any synergistic effects that may be present between the chelate and the pigment.     

Photo-stabilising action of metal chelate stabilisers in polypropylene: Part VII—Additive interactions

The interactions of three metal chelates (nickel (II) 2,2′-thiobis (4-tertoctyl-phenolato), n-butylamine (Cyasorb UV 1084) and the nickel and calcium derivatives of bis(ethyl-3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) phosphonate (Irgastab 2002 and Irganox 1425)) with other commercial additives, in the stabilisation of polypropylene film, are examined using normal and second-order derivative ultraviolet and infra-red spectroscopic techniques. It is shown that the observed behaviour is dependent on the particular additive, the processing history of the polymer and the metal chelate concerned, and is therefore highly complex. All three chelates show antagonism with a hindered piperidine, bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl) sebacate (Tinuvin 770), in unprocessed polymer, whereas one of the chelates behaves synergistically with this additive in processed samples. The chelates also show antagonism with a primary antioxidant, tris((3-(3′,5′-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)-2′'-aceto-ethyl)) isocyanurate (Goodrite 3125), whereas, with a secondary antioxidant, distearyl pent-aerithrityl diphosphite (Weston 618), their behaviour is synergistic in both unprocessed and processed polymer. Two of the chelates show synergism with 2-hydroxy-4-n-octoxybenzophenone (Cyasorb UV 531), the remaining chelate showing antagonism. Mixtures containing a three-additive system show a more complex behaviour. The results are explained in terms of hydroperoxide decomposition, inhibition, stabiliser dispersion, ultraviolet stability and additive compatibility.     

Photostabilising action of a p-hydroxybenzoate light stabiliser in polyolefins: Part IV—Catalyst effects and additive interactions in linear low density polyethylene

The photostabilising action of a p-hydroxybenzoate light stabiliser (Cyasorb® UV2908) is examined in linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). The efficiency of this light stabiliser is shown to be significantly influenced by levels of residual catalyst such as Ti and Al. Deactivation of the catalysts with phosphoric acid in 2-propanol markedly improves both the performance and light stability of the stabiliser. Processing history reduces the efficiency of the stabiliser whereas its light stability increases linearly with processing time and is associated with the ability of the residual catalyst to destroy hydroperoxides during processing. Stabilising efficiency, however, is reduced by a corresponding reduction in stabiliser concentration during processing. The stabiliser synergises effectively during both oven ageing and photo-oxidation with a hindered piperidine light stabiliser due to the complementary function of each additive. Thus, whilst the former terminates primarily alkoxy/hydroxy radicals produced from the decomposition of hydroperoxides, the latter destroys hydroperoxides in a stoichiometric reaction and through the nitroxyl radical intermediate which selectively reacts with macroalkyl (P^?) radicals and through the hydroxylamine which reacts with peroxy radicals (PO₂^?). Strong synergism is also observed with TiO₂ (rutile).     

Stabiliser interactions with hindered piperidine compounds in polypropylene: Influence of processing

The effect of two hindered piperidine compounds on the photo-stability and light stabilising performance of a 2-hydroxy-benzophenone and a 2-hydroxybenzotriazole stabiliser in polypropylene film has been examined. The piperidine compounds—a stable N-oxy radical and a hindered amine—inhibit the photolysis of both the benzophenone and the benzotriazole stabilisers, the amine being more effective. Processing reduces the protective efficiency of the piperidine compounds. The light stability of the polymer was, however, variable, both antagonism and synergism being observed. The processing operation had a dramatic effect on the light stabilising performance of the hindered amine systems whereas it had virtually no effect on the performance of the N-oxy radical systems. The inhibition process is attributed to a regeneration process involving the N-oxy radical and the effects of processing are attributed to the formation of hydroperoxides.     

In-Situ Investigation of Discolouration Processes Between Historic Oil Paint Pigments

Discolouring interactions between paint pigments have been observed since the mid 19^th century. The source of some of these discolourations is the production of copper sulfides from an interaction between cadmium sulfide pigments and copper containing pigments. In this work, the discolouring interaction between cadmium yellow and malachite pigments was observed dynamically using the environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM).     

Photo-stabilising action of a p-hydroxybenzoate light stabiliser in polyolefins: Part III—Antioxidant behaviour and additive/pigment interactions in high density polyethylene

The effect of a number of commercial primary and secondary antioxidants, light stabilisers and pigments on the photo-stabilising action of an n-alkyl substituted p-hydroxybenzoate light stabiliser (Cyasorb® UV 2908) is examined in high density polyethylene. At the concentration levels employed here the p-hydroxybenzoate light stabiliser showed a favourable interaction with all the light stabilisers and pigments studied. Interactions with the primary and secondary antioxidants appeared to be concentration dependent. Synergism with the light stabilisers is associated with the ability of these compounds to destroy hydroperoxides and/or react with alkoxy and hydroxy radicals produced in their photolysis. Synergism with primary and secondary antioxidants is observed at low concentrations of each component (0·05% w/w each) whereas antagonism is observed at higher concentration levels, the latter being associated with unfavourable interactions between intermediate radical products of the additives. With the pigments there is strong synergism and this is associated with the known ability of the pigments to catalyse the photo-decomposition of hydroxperoxides, the resulting alkoxy and hydroxyl radicals being effectively scavenged by the p-hydroxybenzoate stabiliser. Further information on the selectivity of the p-hydroxybenzoate light stabiliser to terminate only the active free radical species in the polymer compared with conventional antioxidant structures is also provided.     

TG-MS characterization of the reaction products of cadmium yellow and malachite artist’s pigments

The deleterious interaction of some traditional sulphide artists pigments and copper ions results in the formation of black copper sulphides, in particular, covellite (CuS), and, hence, the discolouration of valuable artworks. In this paper the interaction of malachite, a source of copper(II) ions, with the pigment cadmium yellow, a sulphide pigment comprising of a solid solution of cadmium and zinc sulphides, is investigated by XRD and TG-MS. XRD showed the presence of the copper sulphide and cadmium carbonate phases, produced by a simple ion exchange mechanism. TG-MS showed the complexity of the range of metastable phases produced. The identification of these phases, however, requires further work.     

Mechanisms of antioxidant action: Behaviour of a hindered piperidine and related oxidation products during processing and photo-oxidation of polypropylene

Evidence is presented to show that a commercial hindered piperidine (I(A)) is not an effective melt stabiliser for polypropylene whereas related nitroxyl radicals (II(A)) and (II(B)) and hydroxylamine (III(B)) are highly effective. These results are explained on the basis of an oxidative transformation of the piperidine to the nitroxyl during processing and the involvement of the latter in a cyclical regenerative process in which the nitroxyl acts as a chain-breaking acceptor (CB-A) antioxidant and the derived hydroxylamine as a chain-breaking donor (CB-D) antioxidant.The same CB-A/CB-D cycle operates during photo-oxidation of polymer films containing each of the additives. The nitroxyl radical concentration reaches a stationary concentration in the polymer, irrespective of whether it is added as nitroxyl or as parent amine. The derived hydroxylamines are substantially more effective than the nitroxyl radicals as ultraviolet stabilisers.     

Effect of micron and nano-grade titanium dioxides on the efficiency of hindered piperidine stabilizers in a model oxidative reaction

Polymer additives often show many side reactions during the ageing of polymers which change the useful life-time of the materials. In this regard nano-grade titanium dioxide additives with high surface areas and nano-particle sizes appeared in recent years to be used in polymers where the side reactions have been found to markedly influence mechanisms of ageing. The interaction between titanium dioxide pigments and stabilizers therefore is proposed as a field of great importance.In this paper the influence of nano and micron particle grade anatase and rutile titanium dioxide pigments on the efficiency of a hindered amine stabilizer, Chimassorb 119FL and Chimassorb 119 has been investigated in the system comprising the model radical reaction of cumene initiated (2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile, AIBN) oxidation. This model reaction was designed to simulate the thermo-oxidative processes in polymers.Kinetic measurements of oxidation rates in the absence of the pigments showed strong retarding activity of the stabilizers under conditions of the model experiments. The rates depend linearly on the reciprocal square root of the concentration of the stabilizers over a sufficiently wide range thereby fitting the mechanism of addition of cumylalkyl R radicals to the Chimassorb molecules. The rate constants for the addition of cumyl R radicals to Chimassorb 119FL and Chimassorb 119 were determined to be k_(333 K) = (1.4 ± 0.2) × 10⁸ and (1.2 ± 0.2) × 10⁸ M⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively. Hence the Chimassorb 119 family is relatively powerful retarders of thermal oxidation.Further measurements of oxidation rates in the presence of titanium dioxide particles showed that there is a significant reduction in the retarding action of the stabilizers in the presence of titanium dioxides. It occurs as a result of the initiating action of titanium additives producing an additional concentration of free radicals and inducing an additional oxidation rate which may weaken the initial inhibiting efficiency of the added hindered piperidine stabilizers. The titanium nano-samples added at a 1-wt.% into the oxidized condensed system are able to completely decrease the initial inhibiting efficiency of the stabilizers. In terms of the degree of the sensitising action the titanium dioxides can be ordered as: nano-rutile > nano-anatase treated hydroxyapatite > nano-anatase untreated > micro-anatase > micro-rutile.The behaviour of titanium dioxide particles incorporated with hindered piperidine HAS stabilizers in condensed systems may thus be used for the assessment of their performance during the thermo-oxidative degradation of polymers.     

Thermal and photo-sensitised oxidation of polypropylene: Influence of hindered piperidine compounds

The effect of two hindered piperidine compounds on the photo-sensitised oxidation of polypropylene by anthracene, anthraquinone, benzhydrol and benzophenone has been examined using infra-red, ultraviolet absorption luminescence and flash photolysis techniques. The compounds—a stable N-oxy radical and a hindered amine—are found to inhibit, to different extents, the photo-sensitised oxidation of the polymer. Neither of the compounds, however, inhibits photo-decomposition of the sensitisers, indicating that mechanisms involving excited state quenching and/or sensitiser regeneration are not operative in stabilisation. On flash photolysis of benzophenone, anthraquinone and benzhydrol, the presence of the N-oxy radical inhibits transient absorption due to the ketyl, semi-quinone and triphenyl methyl radicals. The N-oxy radical also inhibits the thermal reduction of anthraquinone in polypropylene, again indicating that excited state quenching in photo-stabilisation is unimportant. The results are discussed on the basis of a radical trapping mechanism.     

Photo-stability of yellow-green emitting 1,8-naphthalimides containing built-in s-triazine UV absorber and HALS fragments and their acrylonitrile copolymers

Two novel 1,8-naphthalimide dyes, containing active fragments of both 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine UV absorber and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine radical scavenger as well as a polymerisable allyl group, were designed as multifunctional yellow-green emitting fluorophores capable simultaneously of chemically fluorescent dyeing and photo-stabilisation of polymers. Their basic photo-physical characteristics have been determined and are discussed. It was shown that combination of different structural units in the 1,8-naphthalimide molecule does not result in their interaction through intramolecular fluorescence quenching due to an electronic energy transfer. The ability of the combined dyes to copolymerise with acrylonitrile was demonstrated as polyacrylonitriles stable to solvents and with an intense colour and fluorescence were obtained. Photo-degradation of the new fluorophores and their influence on the photo-stability of the coloured copolymers have been studied and compared to other similar fluorescent dyes, not containing either UV absorber or hindered amine fragment in their molecules as well as not containing both of them. Novel fluorophores showed the best photo-stability in both solution and polymer. A significant photo-stabilising effect towards photo-destruction of polyacrylonitrile was found, which might be caused by a possible “synergism” of two stabiliser fragments differing in their action.     

Micro-Raman analysis of coloured lithographs

Raman micro-spectroscopy was chosen for analysis and identification of the pigments present in four nineteenth-century hand-coloured lithographs, as this technique has several advantages over others for this purpose. The possibility of performing completely non-destructive analysis without any sampling is probably one of its most favourable qualities for art analysis. Raman spectroscopy can also be used to determine some pigments that cannot be detected using FTIR, such as vermilion, carbon blacks, cadmium pigments, etc. Among others, Prussian blue, ultramarine blue, carbon black, chrome yellow, yellow ochre, red lead, red iron oxide, burnt Sienna, indigo blue, chrome orange, phthalocyanine green, and some other organic pigments, were determined in the specimens. The results obtained have led to doubts about the age of the lithographs.     

Effect of hindered piperidine compounds on the thermal reduction of p-benzoquinone in polypropylene and its effect on photo-oxidation

The effect of a hindered piperidine compound and stable nitroxyl radical on the thermal reduction of p-benzoquinone in polypropylene has been examined using ESR, uv-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. Thermal reduction to hydroquinone was inhibited by both compounds. With the hindered amine the nitroxyl radical was regenerated through the formation of the hydroxylamine whereas, with the nitroxyl radical, there was quantitative conversion to the hydroxylamine and no nitroxyl radical regeneration. Both inhibition processes were found to antagonise the photo-stabilising action of the hindered piperidine compounds due to the regeneration of the quinone.     

Some color reactions for magnesium

Summary The application of several dyestuffs for the detection of magnesium in strongly alkaline medium has been examined. In all cases cobalt and nickel give the same test as magnesium and manganese in some. Methods for the sensitive detection of magnesium in presence of other cations have been discussed. Titan yellow is a very delicate reagent for magnesium and more specific than 1·2·5·8 oxyanthraquinone. The latter reacts also with beryllium, lanthanum and cadmium, whereas these elements do not form a colored compound with titan yellow. A mixture of titan yellow and magnesium chloride can be used as a reagent for hydroxyl ions; the sensitivity being dependent upon the magnesium concentration. The reaction can also be applied as a spot test on filter paper. Anilin yellow S (Kahlbaum) reacts very sensitively with lanthanum and copper in weakly acid medium (acetate buffer p H around 5,0).     

Photo-stabilisation of polypropylene by a hindered piperidine compound: Influence of hydroperoxide and carbonyl groups

The influence of prior thermally generated hydroperoxides and added benzophenone on the photo-stabilising action of a hindered piperidine compound, bis[2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl]-sebacate, in polypropylene film has been examined. The hindered piperidine compound was found to effectively inhibit both the hydroperoxide and carbonyl group sensitised photo-oxidation of the polymer. Using ESR spectroscopy, evidence is presented to show that the hindered piperidine compound reacts stoichiometrically with the hydroperoxide groups generated by thermal oxidation to give a stable nitroxyl radical. The photo-stabilising effects observed are discussed in relation to our understanding of the ultraviolet anti-oxidant action of the hindered piperidine systems.     

Photo-stabilising action of a polymeric hindered piperidine compound in polypropylene film: Influence of processing

The effect of a phenolic antioxidant on the photo-stabilising performance of a polymeric hindered piperidine compound in polypropylene has been examined using infra-red and ESR spectroscopic techniques. Processing history is shown to play a dominant rôle in controlling the photo-stabilising performance of these systems. Whilst the antioxidant gave enhanced performance, in most cases its effect is antagonistic. The ESR results suggest that maximum stabilisation is associated with the conversion of the amine to the substituted hydroxylamine and not the nitroxyl radical.     

Mechanisms of antioxidant action: Synergism between a 2-hydroxybenzophenone uv stabiliser and autosynergistic antioxidants in polypropylene

Synergism between a uv stabiliser (2-hydroxy-4-octoxybenzophenone (I)) and phenolic antioxidants has been studied during the photo-oxidation of polypropylene. It has been found that hindered phenols containing benzylic sulphur (II) are more effective synergists at the same molar concentration than conventional hindered phenols and that optimum synergism occurs at high molar ratios (I/II). The autosynergistic phenols (II) are shown to protect the uv stabiliser against the effects of hydroperoxides under photo-oxidative conditions by catalytically destroying them and scavenging radicals formed from them. The ‘uv absorber’ (I) also appears to deactivate excited species formed in the photo-decomposition of oxidation products of (II).     

Attenuated total reflection micro FTIR characterisation of pigment–binder interaction in reconstructed paint films

The interaction of pigments and binding media may result in the production of metal soaps on the surface of paintings which modifies their visible appearance and state of conservation. To characterise more fully the metal soaps found on paintings, several historically accurate oil and egg yolk tempera paint reconstructions made with different pigments and naturally aged for 10 years were submitted to attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR FTIR) microspectroscopic analyses. Standard metal palmitates were synthesised and their ATR spectra recorded in order to help the identification of metal soaps. Among the different lead-based pigments, red lead and litharge seemed to produce a larger amount of carboxylates compared with lead white, Naples yellow and lead tin yellow paints. Oil and egg tempera litharge and red lead paints appeared to be degraded into lead carbonate, a phenomenon which has been observed for the first time. The formation of metal soaps was confirmed on both oil and egg tempera paints based on zinc, manganese and copper and in particular on azurite paints. ATR mapping analyses showed how the areas where copper carboxylates were present coincided with those in which azurite was converted into malachite. Furthermore, the key role played by manganese in the production of metals soaps on burnt and raw sienna and burnt and raw umber paints has been observed for the first time. The formation of copper, lead, manganese, cadmium and zinc metal soaps was also identified on egg tempera paint reconstructions even though, in this case, the overlapping of the spectral region of the amide II band with that of metal carboxylates made their identification difficult.