Epoxide thermal stabilization additive for polypyrrolidone

A composition of matter comprising a major amount of a normally solid poly-2-pyrrolidone and a minor amount of an epoxyalkane, containing less than about 60 carbon atoms, effective to reduce the thermal degradation of said poly-2-pyrrolidone to it monomer.

A composition of matter comprising a major amount of normally solid poly-2-pyrrolidone and a minor amount effective to reduce the thermal degradation of said poly-2-pyrrolidone to its monomer of an epoxidized ester, of a fatty acid, containing less than about 60 carbon atoms.

A method of melt extruding normally solid polypyrrolidone comprising admixing a thermal-stabilizing amount effective to reduce the thermal degradation of said poly-2-pyrrolidone to its monomer of an alkyl epoxide, containing less than about 60 carbon atoms, of the formula ##STR3## wherein R is hydrogen, alkyl or epoxyalkyl and R' is alkyl, polyalkylene oxide, epoxyalkyl, epoxypolyalkyl oxide, alkyl ester, epoxyalkyl ester, hydroxy alkyl or hydroxy alkyl ester, with said polypyrrolidone to form a mixture, and extruding said mixture at a melt temperature in the range of about 260.degree.-280.degree. C.