The Mechanisms of the Stabilisation of Thermostable Polymers

New data on the stabilisation of thermostable polymers are presented, attention being concentrated on quantitative data and reaction mechanisms. The theoretically feasible polymer stabilisation pathways at temperatures exceeding 250°C are briefly analysed, various methods for the inhibition of thermo-oxidative and thermal degradation of polymer systems are considered, and experimental results concerning the kinetics and mechanisms of these processes are described.
One of the general polymer stabilisation pathways, based on non-chain inhibition reactions, is analysed in detail; procedures for the generation of highly active stabilisers directly in polymeric materials or during their processing and employment are considered, new approaches are proposed to the solution of the problem of the stabilisation of thermostable polymers, and certain experimental data are quoted.
The bibliography includes 203 references.