Abstract
Abstract Thermal oxidation of blends of polystyrene and poly(vinyl methyl ether) containing a hindered phenol as antioxidant was studied at 110°C. The incorporation of the antioxidant in the miscible blend lengthens the induction period and lowers the rate of oxidation. Phase separation which preceded the end of the induction period caused the antioxidant to redistribute itself among the different phases. This in turn controlled the induction period and the oxidation rate. The molecular weight of the PVME component in the blend remained unchanged during the induction period but decreased rapidly afterwards. Polystyrene also underwent chain scission after the end of the induction period. When low molecular weight polystyrene was blended with PVME, the films remained homogeneous throughout the oxidation reaction. This resulted in a further increase in the induction period and decrease in the rate of oxidation.
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