Alternative methods to control crosslinking in high impact polystyrene

Abstract

High impact polystyrene may be formed with increased swell index and reduced or eliminated discoloration. A process of forming high impact polystyrene may include providing a polymerization system including a polymerization reactor and a devolatilizer. High impact polystyrene may be formed in the polymerization reactor, and sent to the devolatilizer. A polar antioxidant having a hindered phenol structure and an aliphatic amine group, and with a phosphite antioxidant may be added to the polymerization system. In another process, a chemical retarder and a fluorescent whitening agent may be added to the polymerization system. In another process, a chemical retarder that inhibits free radical rubber crosslinking may be added to the polymerization system.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.