Broadband Far-infrared Spectroscopic Identification and Quantification of Antioxidants in Polymeric Insulation

Broadband far-infrared absorption spectra were measured for sheets of low density polyethylene (LDPE), containing various contents of three kinds of phenol-type antioxidants, BHT, Irganox 1010, and Irganox 1330. Each antioxidant exhibits its characteristic spectrum with various peaks, most of which show a monotonic increase in intensity with the increase in content of antioxidant. Therefore, we can identify and quantify the antioxidants added in LDPE.