Effect of hindered amine light stabilizers on the resistance of polypropylene towards ionizing radiation

The influence of hindered amine light stabilizers (HALSs) on physical and mechanical properties of irradiated and non-irradiated isotactic polypropylene (PP) was studied. The stabilizers under investigation were: Tinuvin 765 (T765) and Tinuvin 622 (T622) - derivatives of 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl piperidine and Chimassorb 944 (C944) - a derivative of 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidine. It was found that the stabilizers reduce the amount of peroxyl radicals in the amorphous phase of PP. The irradiation with electron beam causes a drop of apparent viscosity both in the original and in the modified PP however the effect is smaller in the presence of HALSs. Admixture of T622 and T765 stabilizers increases the crystallization temperature of non-irradiated PP by about 8 10°C (measured by DSC) what results from the facilitated formation of a large number small microcrystals. It was concluded that HALSs initiate two opposite tendencies - chemical protection against damage initiated by free radicals and, simultaneously, physical enhancement of sensitivity towards irradiation by the increase of nucleation density. In the studied systems, the presence of maleic anhydride does not improve compatibility between the polymeric matrix and HALSs.