Ever since the beginning of the plastics and rubber industry, it was realized that useful products could be produced only if cer­ tain additives were incorporated into polymers. With the help of these additives, when physically dispersed in a polymer matrix, it has been possible to improve stability against thermal, oxidative, UV, hydrolytic and biological degradation, mechanical properties, flammability, cost, and processibility of plastics. The enormous growth of the volume of plastics consumed by modern society, and new application areas for plastics, have created a demand for new, better additives and better understanding of their functions in polymer systems. As a result of these trends there is a need for sharing of information on progress achieved in the area of polymer additives among engineers and scientists of the plastics industry and academia. This book is based on expanded and updated papers originally presented at the International Symposium on Polymer Additives, which was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, and was sponsored by the American Chemical Society, Division of Polymeric Materials Science and Engi­ neering. The book is divided into five parts which cover advances in various areas of polymer additives. The first part is devoted to the progress in understanding of UV degradation and stabilization of various polymers. Oxidation degradation and stabilization of plastic materials is covered in the second part. New developments in the stabilization of PVC are presented in the third part.

I. UV Degradation and Stabilization of Polymers.- Recent Developments in Photodegradation and Photostabilization of Polydienes.- Advances in UV Stabilization of Polyethylene.- Hindered Amines as Antioxidants in UV Exposed Polymers.- Effect of Various Additives on the Photodegradation of Polyurethanes.- Photochemical Degradation and Biological Defacement o f Polymers - I.- UV Stabilization of Instant Color Photographs.- Photochemical Grafting of Acrylated Azo Dyes on Polymeric Surfaces VI. Effect of 1,2 Diphenyl, 2,2-Dimethoxy, Ethanone as Photoinitiator of the Grafting of Some Acryloxy-Substituted of Aromatic Diazenes onto Poly-(propylene) and Poly(caprolactam) Fibers.- II. Oxidative Degradation and Stabilization.- Critical Phenomena in the Inhibited Oxidation of Polymers.- Critical Temperature for Solubility of a Phenolic Antioxidant.- An Automated, Multistation, Oxygen Uptake System.- Recent Developments in Phosphorus Stabilizers.- Thermooxidation and Stabilization of Urethane and (Urethane-urea) Block Copolymers.- III. Stabilization of PVC.- Model Compounds Studies to Establish the Basic Mechanism for Tin Stabilizers in PVC.- Reactions of PVC with Organotin Stabilizers Under Controlled Conditions.- New Mercapto Esters as Intermediates for PVC Stabilizers.- IV. Flame Retardance and Smoke Suppression.- The effects of Bromine and Antimony-Containing Flame Retardants on the Burning Characteristics of Polyethylene.- Molybdenum Smoke Suppressants in PVC.- Mechanism of PVC Fire Retardance by Molybdenum (VI) Oxide. Further Evidence in Favor of the Lewis Acid Theory.- V. Plasticizers, Fillers and Additives.- Diffusion of Additives and Plasticizers in PVC - III. Diffusion of Three Phthalate Plasticizers in PVC.- Effect of Additives on Properties of Coating Processes ofPolyphenylquinoxalines.- Effect of Pigments on the Aging Characteristics of Polyolefins.- Dynamic Mechanical Investigations of Highly Filled Polyethylene.- The Use of Titanate Coupling Agents for Improved Properties and Aging of Plastic Composites and Coatings.- Compounding of Additives and Fillers.- The Effect of Lubricants on the Extrusion Characteristics of PVC.- Precipitated Calcium Carbonates as Ultraviolet Stabilizers and Impact Modifiers in PVC Siding and Profiles.- Iron Compounds as Adhesion Promoters for Bitumen.