Migration and loss of antioxidants from polyethylene

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Abstract
A series of additives containing the same strongly UV‐absorbing function have been studied with respect to their physical behaviour in low‐density polyethylene. It is found that the loss of the additives to leaching environments is determined by their diffusion coefficients in the pure or solvent‐swollen polymer, and by their partition coefficients between the polymer and the solvent. It is concluded that the potential for low molar mass additives in an increasingly restrictive legislative environment is poor, and the alternative strategem of attaching the functional group to the polymer by a covalent bond is advocated.