Influence of the chemical structure of para-bridged group on the antioxidant behavior of hindered phenol antioxidants in HDPE resin

A hindered phenol antioxidant with rigid para-bridged group (antioxidant AP) was synthesized to study the effect of the chemical structure on the antioxidant properties of hindered phenol antioxidants in high density polyethylene (HDPE). Antioxidant behavior of series of hindered phenol antioxidants with different para-bridged groups in HDPE resin was also investigated by the thermal oxidation experiment, the mobility test, and the long-term accelerated thermal aging test. The results showed that the rigidity of para-bridged group and the molecule size have the important influences on the antioxidant performance of hindered phenol antioxidants in the HDPE resin, and the antioxidant abilities of antioxidant AP and Irganox 1,330 with the aryl para-bridged group was superior to Irganox 1,098 and 1.0G dendritic antioxidant with the alkyl para-bridged group at the same testing conditions. Compared with the hindered phenol antioxidants with alkyl para-bridged group, the hindered phenol antioxidants with aryl para-bridged group have better thermal oxygen stability and less mobility in the HDPE resin. Irganox 1,010 with ester groups is prone to hydrolysis to increase the mobility rate in hot water and the migration resistance of hindered phenol antioxidants in n-hexane. Moreover, the high content of phenolic OH group and the aryl para-bridged group are favorable for improving the antioxidant performance of hindered phenol antioxidants.