THE CURRENT STATE AND SOME FRONTIERS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF POLYMER AGING AND STABILIZATION

The problems of aging and the search for ways of stabilizing polymers continues from both the standpoint of theory and practice. This is due to major economic problems that may be successfully solved by understanding the scientific fundamentals of the polymer aging processes in different operating and storage conditions, and the effects of environmental conditions, i.e. heat, oxygen, ozone, light, penetrating radiation, corrosive liquid media, biologically active media. mechanical loads, etc. This review provides data about the development of the theory of degradation processes and the search for ways to stabilize polymeric materials as effected in Russia and States of former USSR, mainly since 1989 till 1992.