Kinetics of oxidative degradation: Applicability of time and temperature superposition

New methodology is suggested to quantify the effect of temperature on oxidative degradation and compare test results obtained at different temperatures or evaluate changes in chemical mechanisms. Assumption of the pseudo-first-order kinetics to calculate activation energies in oxidative polymerization of uninhibited 100 percent oleic triglyceride under thin film oxidation provided only semiquantitative results from available oxypolymerization data at six temperatures from 100 degrees to 175 degrees C. As an alternative approach, Time and Temperature Superposition (TTS) was applied to analyze the data. Several TTS forms consistent with Arrhenius equation showed much greater accuracy in determining activation energies and induction periods. Different stages of oxidative degradation were identified after the data from different temperatures were combined into one kinetic map. Kinetic maps of alkali-refined high oleic sunflower oil, fully formulated synthetic oleate-based hydraulic fluid and additive-free super refined mineral oil showed their increasing resistance to oxypolymerization. Limitations of TTS were discussed.