Stabilisation of LDPE cross-linked in the presence of peroxides III. Mass spectrometric study of chemical changes taking place in the n-octadecane–dicumyl peroxide–Irganox 1081 system

Abstract An attempt was made to identify the products of the reaction between dicumyl peroxide and Irganox 1081, carried out in n -octadecane (saturated hydrocarbon), in conditions of fast decomposition of the peroxide (180°C, 5 min). Mass spectrometry (MS) was employed to find m/z values of molecular and fragment ions in analyses of the components ( n -octadecane, dicumyl peroxide, Irganox 1081) and of the following systems: n -octadecane–dicumyl peroxide, n -octadecane–Irganox 1081 and n -octadecane–dicumyl peroxide–Irganox 1081, after holding them at a temperature of 180°C for 5 min. The tendency of sulphur in Irganox 1081 to oxidise, specifically in the presence of dicumyl peroxide, was…