Antioxidants Antioxidants protect plastics from oxidative damages. The oxidation process during plastic compounding can cause some defects such as loss of mechanical strength, flexibility, stiffness, fracture, degradation by chain scission (or cross-linking), and discoloration. These additives work to slow down the oxidation cycle, by scavenging free radicals. Organophosphites, sterically hindered phenols, amines, and thioesters are some classes of antioxidants stabilizers. Phenolic antioxidants (also called primary antioxidants) such as YFK- 1010, YFK- 1076 playing as free radical scavengers. During plastic processing, they maintain consistent rheological properties and final features of finished products. Furthermore, phosphite antioxidants, also called secondary antioxidants, such as YFK-168 and YFK-626, maintain the polymer melt characteristics against thermo-oxidative degradation ensuring superior color durability as well as constant melt viscosity. The Table below list the main commercial antioxidants and their uses to help determine which grades are suitable for polymer resins. Commercial Antioxidants and their Applications Product Chemical Structure Applications YFK- 1010 Phenolic PE, PP, PA, PS & Elastomers YFK- 168 Phosphite PE, PP, PA, ABS, PC, POM, TPU & Acrylics YFK- 626 Organophosphite PE, PP, PA, PVC YFK- 1076 Phenolic PE, ABS, PC, PS, PU, Acrylics YFK- 1098 Phenolic PA Compounds, PU Fibers YFK- 1330 Phenolic Polyolefin Water Pipes, BOPP Films, Polypropylene Raffia YFK- 1024 Phenolic act as metal deactivator agent in wire coating YFK- 3114 Phenolic PE, PP Fibers