Water extraction and degradation of a sterically hindered phenolic antioxidant in polypropylene films

Water extraction of the sterically hindered phenolic antioxidant Irganox 1010 from three polypropylene based polymeric films has been studied in isothermal conditions at 40, 50 and 70 °C. The films made of isotactic polypropylene and two different heterophasic polypropylene/ethylene–propylene monomers copolymers (PP/EPM copolymers) were immersed in closed water baths under nitrogen atmosphere in order to minimise the oxidative process. The amounts of antioxidant that have left the films and are dissolved in the water bath have been monitored over time by HPLC analysis and faster extraction kinetics were observed from the polymers than from the homopolymer. No appreciable amounts of Irganox 1010 were found in the extraction water at any time, whereas its degradation by-products were found by LC/MS analysis in the extraction water. The experimental extraction kinetics from the three polymers were compared with the theoretical curves based on the Fick's diffusion equations solved both for a semi-infinite (degradation reaction faster than extraction) and a finite system (no degradation reaction) and Irganox 1010 was demonstrated to be extracted by water from polypropylene based material faster than predictable only on the basis of the values of its coefficient of diffusion in the polymers and of partition between water and polymer.