The determination of dicumyl peroxide in polystyrene materials

Abstract

A method has been developed for the determination of dicumyl peroxide in polystyrene plastic materials that may contain other organic peroxides. The dicumyl peroxide is extracted from the plastic with acetone and separated from the other additives present by thin-layer chromatography on silica gel. The silica gel in the area that contains the dicumyl peroxide is transferred to a small reaction flask and the peroxide determined by a micro-titration procedure.

Formulations containing 0·25 to 0·5 per cent. w/w of dicumyl peroxide have been analysed by this method with a precision of ±12 per cent. of the determined value. Other organic peroxides commonly used in polystyrene formulations do not interfere.