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.