Effect of type of polymerization catalyst system on the degradation and stabilization of polyethylenes in the melt state—Part 4: Comparative antioxidant effectiveness on organoleptic extractables

Abstract

Several polyethylene resins using Ziegler, metallocene, and Phillips catalyst technologies were examined to obtain more detailed information about the effect of different polymerization catalyst systems on the production of extractable thermo-oxidative degradation products formed during melt processing cycles. This produces volatile organoleptic components (VOCs and extractable) such as hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and carboxylic acids.Although some of the oxidation products are in-chain bound, many are pro-