ABSTRACT
The majority of polymers and plastics undergo thermal and thermooxidative degradation due to action at elevated temperatures of dioxygen in the course of processing, use and storage. Degradation is also stimulated by light and mechanical strain and this occurs in the processing of polymers in melt and solutions. Chelate compounds of metals of variable valency and those of zinc are used as stabilizers for polymer protection. Owing to a variety of ligands practically any known property of stabilizer can be achieved: a high compatability with polymer, low volatility, required redox characteristics, and suitable stabilizer transformation products. Polyethylene glycols HO(CH2CH2O)nH of various degrees of polymerization as well as their derivatives are used as complex-forming agents, stationary phases in gas chromatography and plastisizers of polymer materials. Solutions of polyethylene glycol in water and organic solvents as well as liquid oligomers of ethylene glycol can be used for various technical purposes, as heat carriers.
