Latent Antioxidants for Environmentally Responsible Polymer Formulations

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Consumer goods made from plastic or rubber must be stabilized against degradation caused by exposure to heat, light and oxygen. Renewal of my NSERC Discovery Grant is sought to help our group create technology that improves the lifespan of these products, while reducing their impact on human health and the environment. The central theme of the research program is latency, the state of existing but not yet being active. Our goal is to develop latent antioxidants that can be chemically-bonded to commodity polymers using simple, cost-effective chemistry. Once these polymers are put in service, this polymer-bound functionality will be activated by environmental UV light, oxygen and/or moisture. This new approach to antioxidant technology will protect the article from degradation without risking losses to the environment by leaching, extraction, or release as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Canadian manufacturers and consumers alike will benefit from an improved lifespan of polymer products and reduced environmental impact. Furthermore, my five-year research program will support the training of 1 PhD, 3 MSc, and 10 BSc thesis students, providing the Canadian marketplace with HQP that understand the fundamentals of polymer stabilization, and possess the hands-on skills that are needed to change industrial practice.