The identification of antioxidants in polyethylene by gas chromatography

Abstract

A method is described for the gas-chromatographic identification of a range of antioxidants used in polyethylene. By use of two column temperatures, 250 and 300 °C, the relative retention times of ten antioxidants have been determined. The relative retention times of four ultraviolet absorbers have also been determined, as they are extracted with the antioxidants.

The method can be used to detect certain antioxidants down to between 10 and 1 µg per sample.