2. Stabilizer families

The notion of polymer stabilization can only be understood by understanding the details of their degradation mechanisms. To simplify the diagram, we will first consider two types of macromolecular modification:

• chemical modification of the macromolecular chain, which can lead to the formation of chromophore species, generally oxidized, which absorb in the visible range and impart varying degrees of coloration. This mainly affects the aesthetic appearance of the final product, either after processing or during the material's service life;

• cutting of the main macromolecular chain: often radical or ionic phenomena which generate either a decrease in molecular weight, or an increase by recombination of macroradicals. This chain-cutting and cross-linking mechanism, which can occur in the presence or absence of...