The oxyluminescence of polymers III. Effects of oxidation and structure; Mechanisms involved

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Abstract
Studies of polypropylene oxyluminescence show the luminous intensity to be dependent upon the degre of oxidation. The length of the low intensity level portion of the luninescence curve, or pseudo induction period, was found to be a measure of the useful stabilizer life, and the intensity of this portion indicative of the effectiveness of stabilization. The effect of peroxide decomposers was studied and results indicate that peroxide reactions are major producers of luminescence. Analysis of the accepted modes of polymer oxidation, in view of our luminescence findings, indicate that the rate of luminescence buildup should depend upon ease of R. formation and the luminous intensity should be dependent on peroxy radical concentration. The effect of tertiary‐carbon content on luminescence was also investigated, and luminous intensity was found to be dependent upon the amount of polymer branching. Model Compounds having slight structural variations were examined and were found to produce different intensity‐time curves during oxidation, which may be attributed to ease of formation of a reactive site and subsequent peroxy radical reactions.