Natural Antioxidants as Multifunctional Additives for Polymeric Materials

Abstract

The additional substances commonly used for polymeric materials mostly have a negative impact either on the natural environment or human health. Therefore, there is a need for replacing these compounds by more pro-ecological ones. In this paper, some natural antioxidants of plant origin, including xanthone, rutin hydrate, quercetin and a mixture of various polyphenols derived from green tea, were proposed as multifunctional as well as eco-friendly additional compounds for polymers. These substances were implemented by means of the impregnation process into ethylene-propylene copolymer (EPM) matrix. Some significant results of the research work are presented, including the mechanical properties and oxidation induction time (OIT) of the material tested. Moreover, ethylene-propylene copolymer (EPM) with antioxidants was investigated in terms of thermooxidative and UV ageing resistance. The impact of ageing processes on the material tested was analysed mainly by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) absorbance spectra and colour change assessment.