Aqueous antioxidant emulsions

A storage-stable, non-sedimenting emulsion comprising

• a) 10 to 80% by weight, based on the emulsion, of one or more antioxidants of formula I ##STR14## wherein R.sup.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.16 alkyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.12 cycloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl-substituted cycloalkyl of 5 to 12 ring carbon atoms, phenyl or C.sub.7 -C.sub.9 aralkyl,
• R.sup.2 is --H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.12 cycloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl-substituted cycloalkyl of 5 to 12 ring carbon atoms, phenyl or C.sub.7 -C.sub.9 aralkyl,
• R.sup.3 is --H or CH.sub.3,
• n is 1 or 2, when n is 1,
• A is ##STR15## x is 0 to 6, R.sup.6 is --H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.23 alkyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.12 cycloalkyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl-substituted cycloalkyl of 5 to 12 ring carbon atoms, and
• R.sup.4 is --OH, R.sup.5 is --H, or,
• when n is 2,
• A is ##STR16## x is 0 to 6, X is sulfur,
• a is 2 to 6, and
• b is 3 to 40,
• R.sup.4 is --OH and R.sup.5 is --H, or,
• when n is 2,
• A is --S--, --CH.sub.2 --S--CH.sub.2 --, ##STR17## or is an unsubstituted or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl-substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkylene radical, and
• R.sup.4 is --OH and R.sup.5 is --H or R.sup.5 is --OH and R.sup.4 is --H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, and
• R.sup.1 is additionally --H, and
• R.sup.7 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkyl, unsubstituted, hydroxy-substituted or C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkyl-substituted phenyl or phenyl- or hydroxyphenyl-substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkyl,
• b) 0.25 to 10% by weight, based on the emulsion, of a surfactant in the form of a fatty acid salt of formula R--COOY, wherein R is straight chain or branched C.sub.3 -C.sub.18 alkyl or straight chain or branched C.sub.3 -C.sub.18 alkenyl, or is phenyl(C.sub.3 -C.sub.18)alkyl, and Y is an alkali metal, which salt is prepared in situ from the fatty acid,
• c) 0.25 to 10% by weight, based on the emulsion, of a co-surfactant in the form of an alcohol of the general formula R'--OH, wherein R' is straight chain or branched C.sub.4 -C.sub.19 alkyl or straight chain or branched C.sub.4 -C.sub.19 alkenyl, or is phenyl(C.sub.4 -C.sub.19)alkyl, and
• d) water to make up 100%.