AbstractThe initial stages of isotactic polypropylene oxidation were investigated by oxidizing at 130°C. to various extents up to 10 ml. of oxygen consumed per gram of polymer. The development of infrared absorption bands in the carbonyl regions was followed, as increasing amounts of oxidation occurred. The oxidation uptake curves showed that both autocatalytic rate and induction time depended primarily on the thickness of the sample, contrary to the case of polyethylene. This indicated the initiation process was primarily diffusion controlled for samples of the thickness range studied. The presence of copper shortened the induction times and increased the autocatalytic rate. In this case, the dependency of the induction time on thickness was less. Dielectric data showed that polypropylene became unsuitable electrically at about the point where the autocatalytic oxidation set in. It was also found that the effects of prior exposure to oxidative conditions were cumulative to a considerable extent, and thus resulted in shorter induction times
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