ABSTRACT
As shown in Chapters 14-17, the mechanisms of the antioxidant action are very diverse. One
inhibitor terminates chains by reacting with the peroxyl radical, another by reacting with the
alkyl radical, and the third one decreases the autoxidation rate decomposing the hydroper-
oxide formed. The resulting radicals of the inhibitor are either nonreactive, or can contribute
to chain propagation by reacting with ROOH or RH, or can induce cyclic reactions of chain
termination. An inhibitor can either reduce hydroperoxide or catalyze its breakdown. If two
or more inhibitors are added to oxidized hydrocarbon (or other substance), their combined
inhibitory effect can be either additive (the total inhibitory effect is the sum of individual
effects), antagonistic (the inhibitors cancel out each other’s effects), or synergistic (the total
inhibitory effect is greater than the sum of individual effects).
