Background

OXIDATION:

THE PROBLEM

CURRENT

METHODS

A fundamental issue is oxidation, a process in which molecules exposed to heat, light and oxygen become dangerous ‘free radicals.’ These free radicals (R)−molecules with unpaired electrons−are very energetic and unstable. In order to become stable once more, they react quickly with nearby stable molecules by scavenging their electrons, thereby causing those molecules to become free radicals. This rapid chain reaction process quickly turns into a cascade, which in turn quickly degrades, damages, and lowers the lifespan of plastics, oils, lubricants, fuels, and various other materials.

Antioxidants help prevent oxidation by readily donating their hydrogen atoms (which contain unpaired electrons) to ‘hungry’ free radicals (R). By doing so, antioxidants prevent the propagation of free radicals and sustain the life and property of materials. However, the majority of antioxidants used in the market today can only stabilize a single free radical once and then remain inactive. Once the antioxidants are consumed, materials are once again left without any protection against oxidation, causing products to fail (i.e. plastics become brittle and oils become viscous).