7. Conclusion

This dossier dealt with the use of the "standard" mechanistic scheme for the oxidation of hydrocarbon polymers, with three of the most frequently encountered initiation mechanisms: extrinsic constant-velocity initiation (essentially radiochemical aging), initiation by unimolecular decomposition of hydroperoxides (essentially photochemical aging and high-temperature thermal aging) and initiation by bimolecular decomposition of hydroperoxides (essentially low-temperature aging). In the latter two cases, the overall kinetic scheme does not admit of an analytical solution. If, however, restricted intervals of oxygen concentration (pressure) are considered, such solutions can be obtained, at least for the steady state, i.e. for the maximum oxidation rate r _ox .

The advantage of these solutions is that they are always expressed...