Protect Plastics from Thermal and Oxidative Degradation

Heat, oxygen, mechanical shear and repeated processing can cause polymer degradation, leading to changes in molecular structure and a gradual loss of material performance.

This problem is especially important in recycled plastics, where polymers may already have experienced several processing and ageing cycles.

Polymatica provides polymer stabilization solutions and antioxidant masterbatches designed to help protect recycled and virgin polymers during processing and throughout their intended service life.

Recycled PP | Recycled PE | Polyolefin Compounds | Engineering Plastics

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What Causes Polymer Degradation?

Polymer degradation can occur during manufacturing, recycling, storage or use.

Common causes include:

• High processing temperatures

• Exposure to oxygen

• Repeated extrusion and recycling

• Mechanical shear during processing

• Long processing residence times

• UV and environmental exposure

• Inadequate stabilization packages

Thermal and oxidative degradation can affect polymer molecular structure and lead to measurable changes in processing and final-product performance.

Common Signs of Polymer Degradation

Are you experiencing:

• Changes in melt flow or viscosity?

• Loss of mechanical properties?

• Brittleness?

• Discoloration or yellowing?

• Processing instability?

• Reduced durability?

• Increased degradation after repeated recycling?

• Variation between recycled-material batches?

These symptoms may indicate that your polymer requires an improved antioxidant or stabilization system.

Antioxidant Masterbatches for Polymer Stabilization

Polymatica ReStab™ AO

Antioxidant Masterbatch for Recycled and Virgin PP & PE

ReStab™ AO is designed to help protect polyolefins against thermal and oxidative degradation during extrusion, compounding and conversion.

Key Benefits

• Helps improve thermal stability

• Helps reduce oxidative degradation

• Supports more consistent polymer processing

• Helps preserve material performance during reprocessing

• Suitable for recycled PP and PE formulations

• Convenient masterbatch format

• Can be incorporated into customized stabilization systems

Polymatica ReStab™ Plus

Advanced Antioxidant & Processing Stabilization

Some recycled polymers require more than a single antioxidant.

ReStab™ Plus provides a customized antioxidant and processing stabilization package for applications where polymers experience repeated thermal and oxidative stress.

The stabilization system can be adjusted according to:

• Polymer type

• Recycled-content level

• Processing temperature

• Number of processing cycles

• Existing additive package

• Required product lifetime

• Final application

Polymer Degradation in Recycled Plastics

Recycled polymers can be particularly sensitive to degradation because each processing cycle exposes the material to additional heat, oxygen and mechanical shear.

Without an appropriate stabilization strategy, repeated processing may contribute to:

Molecular degradation → changes in melt properties → reduced mechanical performance → lower recycled-material value

An optimized antioxidant system can therefore play an important role in maintaining the quality and processability of recycled polymers.

Applications

Plastic Recycling

Improve the thermal and oxidative stability of recycled polymer streams during reprocessing.

Polymer Compounding

Protect polymer formulations during extrusion and high-temperature processing.

Automotive Plastics

Support long-term stability of recycled and virgin polymer compounds.

Packaging

Improve processing stability in PP and PE formulations.

Industrial Plastic Products

Protect polymer performance in applications requiring repeated or prolonged thermal exposure.

More Than an Antioxidant

Polymer degradation is not always caused by the same mechanism.

A material experiencing degradation may require a combination of:

Antioxidant Stabilization

to reduce thermal and oxidative degradation.

Chain Extension

to address molecular-weight or melt-strength loss in suitable polymers.

UV Stabilization

to protect products exposed to sunlight.

Compatibilization

to improve the performance of mixed polymer systems.

Polymatica can evaluate the complete formulation rather than treating every degradation problem with the same additive.

Customized Polymer Stabilization

Every Recycled Polymer Has a Different History

Feedstock quality, processing temperature, contamination, previous stabilization and recycling history can all influence polymer degradation.

Tell us:

1. Which polymer are you processing?

2. Is it virgin, recycled or a blend?

3. What processing temperature are you using?

4. What performance loss are you observing?

5. What is the final application?

Polymatica can recommend an existing stabilization solution or develop a customized additive masterbatch for your application.

Improve Polymer Stability and Recycled Material Performance

If your polymer is losing stability during extrusion, compounding or repeated recycling, the additive package may need to be optimized.

Tell us about your polymer and processing problem.