The effect of thermal processing on PVC—VI. The role of hydrogen chloride

The reaction between cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) and anhydrous hydrogen chloride under various conditions of temperature and concentration has been studied in an inert solvent (chlorobenzene) and in an oxidisable medium (cumene). The kinetics were first order with respect to each reactant; the energy of activation of the overall second-order reaction was 53.4 kJ mol^?1 K^?1. Competing ionic and free radical mechanisms were found to operate, the latter predominating at relatively high HCl concentrations, leading to rapid pro-oxidation in cumene. The effect of typical organo-tin PVC stabilizers on the pro-oxidant process were examined. It was found that dibutyltin maleate neutralized the HCl thus eliminating the pro-oxidant effect when used in stoichiometric proportions, but had little other effect. Dioctyltin bis(isol-octylthioglycollate) on the other hand not only neutralized the HCl stoichiometrically but gave additional oxidative stabilization over a wide concentration range.