七月份仓库像个蒸笼，一批发汽配厂的PP仪表台料，在露天堆场放了三周，表面开始粉化，指甲一刮就掉白屑。客户整批退货，物流加补货一趟亏了小十万。配方师回头一看，抗氧剂只加了单剂1010，没配辅抗氧168，高温仓储下提前耗光了。
一吨塑料里那零点几公斤的抗氧剂，平时没人想起它，一出黄变全车间头一个找它。先花两分钟，把这东西的家底摸清楚。
| 体系 | 代表品种 | 关键参数 | 典型制品 | 添加比例 |
|---|
| 受阻酚主抗氧 | 1010 | 分子量1178,低挥发,通用 | PP/PE/工程塑料改性 | 0.1%-0.2% |
| 受阻酚主抗氧 | 1076 | 分子量531,不喷霜 | 薄膜/纤维/透明件 | 0.1%-0.2% |
| 受阻酚主抗氧 | 1098 | 分子量637,耐水抽出 | PA6/PA66/热水件 | 0.2%-0.3% |
| 亚磷酸酯辅抗氧 | 168 | 磷约4.8%,加工稳定 | 挤出造粒/注塑 | 0.1%-0.2% |
| 亚磷酸酯辅抗氧 | 626 | 磷约10.3%,耐高温 | PPS/PEEK高温件 | 0.1%-0.2% |
| 硫代酯辅抗氧 | DLTDP | 硫约12.3%,长效耐热 | 电缆料/热水管 | 0.2%-0.5% |
注：表中参数为行业通用范围，不同厂家牌号存在差异，实际选型以厂家官方TDS及批次检测报告为准。
抗氧剂不是加得多就保险，是配得对才管用
别急着翻牌号，先认识下这位幕后角色。宁波市科隆新材料有限公司长期经营各类塑料助剂及改性原料，抗氧剂是其中一块主力品类，覆盖国内外多个品牌货源，在1010、1076、168、626、DLTDP这些常用品种上有稳定供货渠道。抗氧剂说白了就是塑料的保鲜剂——塑料在加工和使用里会碰到热、氧、光，产生自由基链式反应，分子链一断一交联，料就变色、变脆、性能往下掉。抗氧剂的活儿，就是把这条链掐断，让料老得慢一点。
做这行久了你就明白，抗氧剂的账不是省在那一公斤几十块上，是省在别让整批料黄变退货。它添加量小到一吨料里只占零点几公斤，可料的寿命、外观、良率都攥在它手里。这就是它投入产出比高的地方。
抗氧剂就像塑料的维生素E，量不多，缺了它材料老得快。
图1 塑料改性车间与各色塑料颗粒
主抗氧抓自由基，辅抗氧拆过氧化物，两支队伍干的不是一回事
从机理上讲，抗氧剂分两大阵营，各干各的活。主抗氧是受阻酚类，靠给出氢原子把过氧自由基逮住，让活泼的自由基变成安分的分子；辅抗氧是亚磷酸酯类、硫代酯类，负责把氢过氧化物拆成无害的醇和酮。这俩的关系像消防队里的灭火器和消防员——一个控火，一个清场，缺了谁都不行。
很多刚入行的有个误区，觉得抗氧剂加得越多越好。其实受阻酚加多了会酚黄变——碰到NOx气体就生成黄色醌式结构，制品表面发黄；亚磷酸酯加多了又可能水解，产酸腐蚀螺杆和模具。行里有句话：抗氧剂是味精，提鲜就行，放多了反而坏一锅汤。
主辅怎么搭，记住几个常用配方就够。通用PP/PE改性，1010加168复配，主辅比一比一到一比二；透明薄膜纤维换1076配168；PA耐热水用1098配168；PPS、PEEK这种三百多度加工的高温料，1010配626。别拿单剂硬扛，复配才稳。
再说个容易踩的坑。主抗氧和辅抗氧不是能互相顶替的备胎，管的根本不是同一场仗。1010这种主抗氧负责在使用期里长效抗氧化，168这种辅抗氧负责在挤出加工那几分钟里稳住熔体。你光加1010，加工那一下的黄变它顾不过来；光加168，料做出来用半年又脆了。很多厂黄变退货，回头一查就是主辅缺了一边，不是助剂不好，是配方不完整。
牌号怎么挑也有门道。1010是通用王，分子量大一倍、挥发低，几乎所有聚烯烃和工程料都能用，就是薄膜纤维里可能喷霜；1076分子量小一半，相容性好、不喷霜，专门给薄膜和透明件，但高温加工超过两百六就得搭1010；1098带氮结构，专为PA设计，耐热水抽出，PA加工温度高又怕热水老化，用它比1010合适。选牌号不是越贵越好，是越对基材越好。
一吨料里那零点几公斤助剂，省的是退货单上的大钱
厂家为什么要买抗氧剂？这事得从退货单说起。做PP/PE改性的厂，料发黄、表面粉化、高温一放就脆，客户一整批退，物流加补货加停产，一趟亏的钱够买好几年抗氧剂。可抗氧剂一吨料里也就加零点几公斤，一公斤几十块，折算到每吨料成本里不到百分之一。用这么小一笔钱，把黄变、老化、退货这些大坑填上，这就是它小投入撬动大账的道理。
省在哪、稳在哪、灵活在哪？省在退货和废品率，一整批料不出事就把料钱和物流钱全保住了；稳在批次一致，热老化数据每批可追，客户的耐老化要求才接得住；灵活在添加量小，基料换供应商不用推倒配方，调调助剂就行。
| 成本项 | 不加或省加 | 正常复配添加 | 差异说明 |
|---|
| 助剂采购 | 几乎为零 | 每吨几十到一百多 | 添加量小,占吨成本<1% |
| 黄变/老化 | 半年到一年脆裂 | 按要求撑寿命 | 退货风险差出一大截 |
| 废品率 | 外观件整批判废 | 批次稳定外观匀 | 良率差几个点 |
| 加工黄变 | 熔体MFR飘 | 加工稳 | 挤出注塑少调机 |
| 综合账 | 省下助剂钱 | 小投入保整批料 | 退货一次顶几年助剂 |
再算一笔更实际的账：自己买基料加抗氧剂改，还是直接买人家配好的改性料？下面这张表摊开比。
| 对比项 | 直接买改性塑料 | 基料+助剂自改 | 说明 |
|---|
| 料本 | 含供应商加工费和利润 | 通常更低 | 行业通用口径,省去牌号溢价 |
| 灵活度 | 挑现成牌号,改不了 | 按工况微调 | 温度/颜色/寿命都能调 |
| 起订量 | 整吨起,货期长 | 助剂公斤级,随用随加 | 库存压力小 |
| 工艺适配 | 换牌号要重新调机 | 自己设备自己熟 | 微调更准 |
| 合规数据 | 供应商掌握 | 自己掌握批次数据 | UL/食品接触文件在手 |
| 适合谁 | 用量小/认证严/懒得自己测 | 有量有检测能力的厂 | 用量太小别硬自己改 |
边界提醒也得说清楚：自己改性要有配方和测试能力，热老化、MFR这些得自己测；用量特别小、或者认证要求卡死的订单，直接买改性料或母粒反而省事，别为了省那点加工费硬上自改。什么时候别自己改，心里得有杆秤。
这笔账用成本公式算更清楚。按行业通用口径，改性料吨成本等于原料成本加损耗、加工费、包装、管销财费再叠利润。加工费一吨八百到一千八，包装一百到两百五，管销财费再按百分之五到十提，最后通用料还要加百分之五到十的利润、工程料加到百分之十五到二十五。也就是说，你买人家配好的改性料，料价之上被叠了这一整套加价。自己买基料加抗氧剂自改，原料成本是大头，加工这一段省下来的加价，就是自改的利润空间——这也是为什么用量大、配方稳定的厂，自改账算得过来。
为什么这笔账划算？算给你看：一吨PP改性料，加1010和168各零点一五，按行情折下来助剂成本也就几十块。可一旦黄变整批退回，料本身几千块没了，加上来回物流、补单的加急费、客户那边的交期赔偿，随便一趟就是几万。这就是助剂的杠杆效应——投入百分之一不到，守住的是百分之百的料。省料钱省到助剂上，是捡了芝麻丢西瓜。
同一种抗氧剂，放十个塑料品类里用法差出一截
抗氧剂不是一张方子打天下，换个塑料品类，体系和添加量都得跟着变。下面这张跨品类矩阵，把常用塑料里怎么用列清楚。宁波市科隆新材料有限公司在给不同基材配抗氧体系时，习惯先问做什么料、什么工况，再推主辅组合——PP要耐候得搭HALS，PA要耐水得换1098，问错了配方方向就偏了。
| 塑料品类 | 典型场景 | 添加量范围 | 效果 | 注意事项 |
|---|
| PP | 保险杠/家电外壳 | 0.2%-0.4% | 抑制热氧黄变 | 户外件加HALS |
| PE | 薄膜/管材/周转箱 | 0.2%-0.4% | 耐加工耐老化 | 薄膜选1076防喷霜 |
| ABS | 家电外壳/玩具 | 0.2%-0.5% | 抑制加工变色 | 注意与阻燃剂兼容 |
| PC | 透明件/板材 | 0.1%-0.3% | 耐加工防黄变 | 高温配626 |
| PA6/PA66 | 齿轮/引擎周边 | 0.3%-0.5% | 耐热水抽出 | 用1098,加工前烘干 |
| POM | 齿轮/滑块 | 0.2%-0.4% | 加工稳定 | 酸性环境慎用 |
| PBT | 接插件/纤维 | 0.2%-0.4% | 耐水解耐热 | 回收料补加 |
| PVC | 电缆料/型材 | 0.2%-0.5% | 长效耐热 | 配DLTDP |
| PS/透明件 | 杯子/灯罩 | 0.1%-0.3% | 防加工黄变 | 选不喷霜牌号 |
跨品类选料还有个常被忽略的点：回收料里的抗氧剂已经耗掉一部分，回料比例超过三成时，通常要补加原配方用量的三成到五成。回料越多，抗氧剂越不能省，这一点科隆新材在配回收料体系时会主动提醒客户。
另外说个搭配上的事。抗氧剂和光稳定剂是好搭档，户外件建议HALS加紫外吸收剂加抗氧剂三重协同，各管一段；可抗氧剂跟某些阻燃剂会打架——溴系阻燃剂高温下放出来的溴化氢会消耗抗氧剂，用溴系阻燃的配方往往得适当多加抗氧剂。这些看不见的配伍关系，自己改配方时最容易漏。
你手上要是正好有个户外PP件、或者回料比例高的配方，主辅怎么搭心里没底，别急着下单。把基材、工况、月用量发来，科隆新材先帮你看方向、圈两三个候选体系，不用你先猜。
从被进口牌号锁死到自改配方，这笔账算明白了
下面是为讲清回收逻辑拼出来的典型示例，对不上任何一家真实客户。宁波有家做汽车PP改性料的厂，前几年一直被进口头部牌号的1010加168锁着，整吨改性料买回来，助剂那一截成本压不下来，牌号换起来货期又长，客户一提改寿命就得找供应商谈。
后来他们改成自己买PP基料，加国产头部品牌的1010和168自改。宁波市科隆新材料有限公司给他们寄了公斤级样品，还附了同批次热老化检测数据。客户配方师在实验室跑了150度热老化平行测试，冲击强度保留率和原来进口料差距很小。跑了三个月小批量，最终切过来，每吨料本降了一截，换颜色换寿命也能自己微调，货期不再被供应商卡。
他们也踩过坑。头一回自改时省了辅抗氧168，只上1010，结果挤出造粒那道就黄变了，一批料外观不过关。后来把主辅配齐，又按回料比例补加，问题才稳住。这单说明：抗氧剂自改省的是料钱，前提是体系别配错、数据别省。
抗氧剂选型，先定基材和工况再翻牌号
把常见应用浓缩成一张对照，下单前对着勾：
| 应用场景 | 推荐体系 | 添加量 | 注意事项 |
|---|
| 通用PP/PE改性 | 1010+168 | 0.2%-0.4% | 主辅1:1或1:2 |
| 透明薄膜纤维 | 1076+168 | 0.2%-0.4% | 防喷霜 |
| PA6/PA66耐热水 | 1098+168 | 0.3%-0.5% | 加工前烘干 |
| 高温PPS/PEEK | 1010+626 | 0.2%-0.4% | 控制湿度 |
| 户外件 | 1010+168+HALS | 约0.5% | 三协同 |
| 回收料>30% | 原配方补加30%-50% | 按比例 | 杂质多适当多补 |
采购抗氧剂再送一个实在动作：头一回合作先要小样，要热老化数据，上机做几件典型件跑完测试再谈批量。抗氧剂的猫腻不在单批，在两批之间MFR和黄变漂不漂——每批随货带数据，比嘴上保证管用。
采购和配方师常问三个问题，一并答了。问：抗氧剂一般加多少合适？答：通用复配总添加量百分之零点二到零点四，主辅一比一到一比二，透明薄膜和PA热水件往上调到零点五左右，别超过零点八，加多了反而喷霜、水解。
问：抗氧剂1010和168有什么区别？答：1010是主抗氧，管使用期里长效抗氧化；168是辅抗氧，管挤出加工那几分钟稳熔体，俩是搭档不是替代，单用一个都不完整。问：塑料发黄怎么办？答：先别上来就怪料，查三件事——加工温度是不是过高、料烘没烘干、主辅是不是只加了一边。这三样排完再考虑换牌号。
行情这块给个参照口径。按行业通用价，1010和168这类常用抗氧剂大约三十到六十块一公斤，1098因为专做PA更贵些，八十到一百五。整个改性配方里助剂成本通常只占吨成本的百分之一到五——这点钱跟整批料比，真算不上什么。宁波市科隆新材料有限公司报抗氧剂时，会把常用品种的行情和每批热老化数据一起给你，不用你自己到处问价。
省料钱省到配方里那两克抗氧剂上，黄变退回来的货够你买一年。
抗氧体系配得对，一吨料的寿命才守得住
宁波市科隆新材料有限公司长期供应抗氧剂1010/1076/168/626/DLTDP等常用品种，覆盖PP/PE/ABS/PC/PA等基材改性场景。
声明：本文提及的品牌及商标权归各自原厂所有。本文为第三方选材知识分享，文中涉及的具体牌号、参数、价格、认证等信息以各厂家官方最新资料为准。本文不构成任何采购或投资建议。
In July, the warehouse was like a steam chamber. A batch of PP dashboard materials for an auto parts factory was left in the open yard for three weeks, and the surface started to powder; a scratch with a fingernail would leave white flakes. The entire batch was returned by the customer, and the logistics and resupply cost nearly a hundred thousand in losses. When the formulator looked back, he realized that only antioxidant 1010 had been added, without the assistant antioxidant 168, so it was used up prematurely under high-temperature storage.
In a ton of plastic, those mere fractions of a kilogram of antioxidants are usually forgotten, but once yellowing occurs, they're the first thing the whole workshop looks for. First, spend two minutes to get a clear understanding of this stuff.
| system | Representative varieties | Key parameters | Typical products | Add ratio |
|---|
| Phenolic antioxidant | One Thousand Ten | Molecular weight 1178, low volatility, general purpose | PP/PE/Engineering Plastic Modification | 0.1%-0.2% |
| Phenolic antioxidant | 1076 | Molecular weight 531, does not frost | Film/Fiber/Transparent Parts | 0.1%-0.2% |
| Phenolic main antioxidant | 1,098 | Molecular weight 637, water-extractable | PA6/PA66/hot water parts | 0.2%-0.3% |
| Phosphite antioxidant | One Hundred Sixty Eight | Phosphorus about 4.8%, processing stable | Extrusion Granulation / Injection Molding | 0.1%-0.2% |
| Phosphite antioxidant | Six Hundred Twenty-Six | Phosphorus approximately 10.3%, high temperature resistant | PPS/PEEK high-temperature components | 0.1%-0.2% |
| Thioester auxiliary antioxidant | DLTDP | Sulfur approximately 12.3%, long-lasting heat resistance | Cable material / Hot water pipe | 0.2%-0.5% |
Note: The parameters in the table represent the industry-wide common range. Differences exist among different manufacturers and grades. Actual selection should be based on the manufacturer's official TDS and batch test reports.
Antioxidants aren't safer the more you add; they only work if properly matched.
Don't rush to check the product number; first, get to know this behind-the-scenes player. Ningbo Kelon New Materials Co., Ltd. has been long engaged in various plastic additives and modified materials. Antioxidants are one of their main product categories, covering many domestic and international brands, with stable supply channels for common varieties like 1010, 1076, 168, 626, and DLTDP. Simply put, antioxidants are like preservatives for plastics—plastics encounter heat, oxygen, and light during processing and use, which trigger free radical chain reactions. As the molecular chains break and cross-link, the material discolors, becomes brittle, and its performance declines. The role of antioxidants is to interrupt this chain, making the material age more slowly.
After being in this industry for a long time, you will understand that the cost of antioxidants is not saved in those tens of yuan per kilogram, but in preventing an entire batch of material from yellowing and being returned. Its addition amount is so small that it only accounts for a few tenths of a kilogram in a ton of material, yet the material's lifespan, appearance, and yield are all in its hands. This is where its high input-output ratio lies.
Antioxidants are like vitamin E for plastics; in small amounts, without them, the material ages quickly.
Figure 1 Plastic modification workshop and various colored plastic pellets
The main antioxidant grabs free radicals, while the auxiliary antioxidant breaks down peroxides; the two teams are doing completely different things.
Mechanistically, antioxidants are divided into two major camps, each doing its own work. The primary antioxidants are hindered phenols, which capture peroxyl radicals by donating hydrogen atoms, turning reactive radicals into stable molecules. The secondary antioxidants are phosphite esters and thioesters, responsible for breaking down hydroperoxides into harmless alcohols and ketones. Their relationship is like that between fire extinguishers and firefighters in a fire brigade—one controls the fire, the other cleans up the scene; neither can be absent.
Many newcomers in the industry have a misconception, thinking that the more antioxidants you add, the better. In fact, adding too much hindered phenol can cause phenol yellowing — when it encounters NOx gases, it forms a yellow quinone structure, causing the product surface to yellow; adding too much phosphite can hydrolyze, producing acids that corrode screws and molds. There’s a saying in the industry: antioxidants are like MSG, just enough to enhance the flavor; adding too much can ruin the whole pot of soup.
How to combine the main and auxiliary components—just remember a few common formulas. For general PP/PE modification, blend 1010 with 168, with a main-to-auxiliary ratio from 1:1 to 1:2; for transparent film fibers, replace with 1076 and blend with 168; for PA resistant to hot water, use 1098 with 168; for high-temperature materials like PPS and PEEK processed above 300°C, use 1010 with 626. Don’t try to rely on a single additive; blending is more stable.
Let me mention another common pitfall. Primary antioxidants and secondary antioxidants are not interchangeable backups; they're dealing with completely different battles. Type 1010 primary antioxidants are responsible for long-term antioxidation during the product's life, while type 168 secondary antioxidants stabilize the melt during the few minutes of extrusion processing. If you only add 1010, it can't prevent the yellowing that happens during processing; if you only add 168, the material will become brittle after six months of use. Many manufacturers face returns due to yellowing, and upon inspection, it's often because either the primary or secondary antioxidant was missing. It's not that the additives are bad—it's that the formulation is incomplete.
There are tricks to choosing grades. 1010 is the universal king, with molecular weight twice as large and low volatility, suitable for almost all polyolefins and engineering plastics, although it may cause frosting in film fibers; 1076 has half the molecular weight, good compatibility, and no frosting, specially made for films and transparent parts, but if processing temperatures exceed 260°C, it needs to be paired with 1010; 1098 has a nitrogen-containing structure, designed specifically for PA, resistant to hot water extraction, suitable for high-temperature PA processing that is sensitive to hot water aging, making it more appropriate than 1010. Choosing a grade is not about being more expensive, but about being more compatible with the substrate.
Those few tenths of a kilogram of additives per ton of material save a lot of money on the return orders.
Why do manufacturers buy antioxidants? This issue starts with return orders. For factories doing PP/PE modification, if the material yellows, the surface becomes powdery, and it becomes brittle as soon as it's exposed to high temperatures, the customer will return the entire batch. With logistics, replenishment, and production stoppages, the losses from one such incident are enough to buy antioxidants for several years. Yet, antioxidants are added in just a few tenths of a kilogram per ton of material, costing tens of yuan per kilogram, which translates to less than one percent of the cost per ton. Using such a small amount of money to prevent yellowing, aging, and returns—these major pitfalls—demonstrates how a small investment can leverage a big impact on the accounts.
Where is the savings, the stability, and the flexibility? The savings come from returns and defect rates; as long as a whole batch of material has no issues, the cost of the material and logistics is fully preserved. The stability lies in batch consistency; the thermal aging data can be traced for each batch, meeting the customer's aging resistance requirements. The flexibility is in small additive amounts; when changing the supplier of the base material, there's no need to overhaul the formula, just adjust the additives.
| Cost item | Do not add or omit adding | Normal compounded addition | Difference Explanation |
|---|
| Auxiliary Materials Procurement | Almost zero | Tens to over a hundred per ton | Small addition amount, accounts for less than 1% of ton cost |
| Yellowing/Aging | Brittle and cracked in six months to a year | Extend lifespan as required | The risk of returns is far off |
| Defect rate | Entire batch of exterior parts rejected | Batch stability, uniform appearance | The yield rate is a few points lower |
| Processing yellowing | Melt MFR fluctuation | Processing stable | Extrusion injection molding minor adjustment machine |
| General account | Save money on additives | Small investment guarantees the entire batch of materials | Returning goods once is equivalent to several years of additives |
Let's do a more practical calculation: should you buy the base material and antioxidants and modify it yourself, or just buy the pre-formulated modified material? The table below breaks down the comparison.
| Comparison item | Buy modified plastic directly | Base material Additives self-modified | Explanation |
|---|
| material cost | Including supplier processing fees and profit | Usually lower | Industry-wide standard caliber, eliminating brand premium |
| Flexibility | Picking an existing brand, it can't be changed. | Fine-tune according to operating conditions | Temperature/color/lifespan can all be adjusted |
| Minimum order quantity | Starting from full ton, long delivery time | Additives in kilogram scale, add as needed | Low inventory pressure |
| Process adaptation | Changing the brand/type requires readjusting the machine | Familiar with your own equipment | Finer adjustment is more accurate |
| Compliance data | Supplier Mastery | Control batch data by yourself | UL/food contact documents in hand |
| Suitable for whom | Small dosage / strict certification / too lazy to test myself | A factory with capacity and testing capability | The dosage is too small, don't force yourself to change it. |
Boundary reminders also need to be made clear: If you modify the material yourself, you need to have the formulation and testing capabilities; things like thermal aging and MFR need to be tested by yourself. For orders with particularly small quantities or strict certification requirements, it is actually easier to directly buy modified materials or masterbatches rather than trying to save on processing costs by modifying them yourself. You need to have a sense of when not to modify materials on your own.
It is clearer to calculate this account using the cost formula. According to the common industry standard, the ton cost of modified material equals the raw material cost plus losses, processing fees, packaging, management, sales, and financial expenses, with profit added on top. Processing fees range from 800 to 1,800 per ton, packaging from 100 to 250, management, sales, and financial expenses are charged at 5% to 10%, and finally, general-purpose material adds 5% to 10% profit, while engineering material adds 15% to 25%. In other words, when you buy ready-prepared modified material from someone else, a whole set of mark-ups is added on top of the material price. When you buy the base material and antioxidant to modify it yourself, the raw material cost is the main part, and the markup saved on processing becomes the profit margin of self-modification — this is also why factories with large usage and stable formulas can make self-modification accounting work.
Why is this account worthwhile? Let me break it down for you: one ton of PP modified material, adding 0.15 of 1010 and 168 each, even when calculated according to the market, the cost of additives is only a few dozen yuan. But if yellowing occurs and the entire batch is returned, the material itself costing a few thousand yuan is gone, plus the logistics back and forth, rush fees for reorders, and compensation for the customer's delivery schedule, a single trip can easily cost tens of thousands. This is the leverage effect of additives — investing less than one percent to protect one hundred percent of the material. Saving on material costs but skimping on additives is like saving a sesame seed but losing the watermelon.
The same antioxidant is used differently in ten different types of plastic products.
Antioxidants are not a one-size-fits-all solution; when you switch to a different type of plastic, the system and dosage need to change accordingly. The following cross-category matrix clearly lists how they are used in common plastics. Ningbo Kelon New Materials Co., Ltd., when formulating antioxidant systems for different substrates, usually first asks what type of material is being made and under what conditions, and then recommends the main and auxiliary combinations — for PP to be weather-resistant, HALS should be added; for PA to be water-resistant, it needs to switch to 1098. Getting the formula direction wrong will lead to deviations.
| Plastic products | Typical scenario | Addition range | Effect | Precautions |
|---|
| PP | Bumper / Appliance casing | 0.2%-0.4% | Inhibit thermal yellowing | Outdoor parts with HALS |
| PE | Film / Tubing / Turnover Box | 0.2%-0.4% | Machinable and aging-resistant | Film select 1076 anti-spray cream |
| ABS | Home appliance casing / toys | 0.2%-0.5% | Inhibit processing discoloration | Pay attention to compatibility with flame retardants |
| PC | Transparent parts/sheets | 0.1%-0.3% | Machinable and yellowing-resistant | High temperature matching 626 |
| PA6/PA66 | Gears/Engine Periphery | 0.3%-0.5% | Hot water extractable | Dry with 1098 before processing |
| POM | Gear/Slider | 0.2%-0.4% | Processing stability | Use with caution in acidic environments |
| PBT | Connectors/Fiber | 0.2%-0.4% | Hydrolysis-resistant and heat-resistant | Addition of recycled material |
| PVC | Cable Material/Profiles | 0.2%-0.5% | Long-lasting and heat-resistant | With DLTDP |
| PS/Transparent Parts | Cup/Lampshade | 0.1%-0.3% | Prevent processing yellowing | Choose not to spray the cream brand |
Another often overlooked point in cross-category material selection is that some of the antioxidants in recycled materials have already been consumed. When the proportion of recycled material exceeds 30%, it is usually necessary to add 30% to 50% of the original formula's amount. The more recycled material is used, the less you can skimp on antioxidants. Kolon New Materials actively reminds customers of this when formulating with recycled material systems.
Another point about combinations. Antioxidants and light stabilizers are a good pair. For outdoor parts, it is recommended to use a triple synergy of HALS, UV absorbers, and antioxidants, each covering a different segment. Some antioxidants can conflict with certain flame retardants—brominated flame retardants release hydrogen bromide at high temperatures, which consumes antioxidants, so formulations with brominated flame retardants often require adding more antioxidants accordingly. These invisible compatibility relationships are the easiest to overlook when modifying formulations on your own.
If you happen to have an outdoor PP part on hand, or a formula with a high recycled material ratio, and you're unsure about how to combine the main and auxiliary materials, don't rush to place an order. Send over the base material, working conditions, and monthly usage, and Kolon New Material will help you look at the direction first and circle two or three candidate systems, so you don't have to guess initially.
From being locked to imported brands to modifying the formula ourselves, this account has been settled clearly.
Below is a typical example pieced together to explain the recycling logic, and it does not match any real customer. There is a factory in Ningbo that manufactures modified automotive PP materials. In the past few years, it has been locked by top imported grades 1010 and 168. When buying whole tons of modified material, the cost of the additives cannot be reduced, and when changing grades, the delivery time is long. If the customer mentions modifying the lifespan, they have to negotiate with the supplier.
Later, they switched to buying the PP base material themselves and modifying it with domestically leading brands 1010 and 168. Ningbo Kolon New Materials Co., Ltd. sent them kilogram-scale samples along with heat aging test data from the same batch. The client's formulators ran 150°C heat aging parallel tests in the lab, and the impact strength retention was very close to that of the original imported material. After three months of small-batch production, they finally switched over. The cost per ton of material dropped significantly, and they could adjust color and longevity themselves, so delivery times were no longer controlled by suppliers.
They also ran into pitfalls. The first time they tried to modify it themselves, they skipped Antioxidant 168 and only added 1010. As a result, the extruded granules turned yellow, and a batch of material didn't meet the appearance standards. Later, they fully matched the primary and secondary additives and supplemented according to the recycled material ratio, and only then did the problem stabilize. This case shows: saving on additives by self-modifying antioxidants only saves on material costs, provided that the system is correctly formulated and the data is not skimped.
When selecting antioxidants, first determine the substrate and working conditions, then choose the grade.
Condense common applications into a single comparison chart, and check it before placing an order:
| Application scenario | Recommendation system | Addition amount | Precautions |
|---|
| General PP/PE Modification | 1010 168 | 0.2%-0.4% | Master and support 1:1 or 1:2 |
| Transparent thin film fiber | 1076 168 | 0.2%-0.4% | Anti-spray cream |
| PA6/PA66 hot water resistant | 1098 168 | 0.3%-0.5% | Drying before processing |
| High-temperature PPS/PEEK | 1010 626 | 0.2%-0.4% | Control humidity |
| Outdoor components | 1010 168 HALS | About 0.5% | Three synergies |
| Recycled material >30% | Add 30%-50% of the original formula | Proportionally | If there are many impurities, supplement appropriately |
A practical step when purchasing antioxidants: for the first cooperation, start with small samples, require heat aging data, run a few typical parts on the machine and complete the tests before discussing bulk orders. The trick with antioxidants isn’t in a single batch but between two batches—whether MFR and yellowing are stable. Each batch should come with data along with the shipment; this is more reliable than verbal assurances.
Purchasing and formulators often ask three questions, so here are the answers together. Question: How much antioxidant is generally appropriate? Answer: For general compound formulations, the total addition is 0.2% to 0.4%, with the ratio of primary to auxiliary antioxidants ranging from 1:1 to 1:2. For transparent films and PA hot water parts, adjust upwards to around 0.5%, but do not exceed 0.8%. Adding too much can actually cause blooming and hydrolysis.
Q: What is the difference between antioxidants 1010 and 168?
A: 1010 is the primary antioxidant, providing long-lasting oxidation resistance during the product's service life; 168 is the secondary antioxidant, stabilizing the melt for a few minutes during extrusion processing. The two are partners, not substitutes, and using only one is incomplete.
Q: What should I do if plastic turns yellow?
A: Don’t immediately blame the material. Check three things first: whether the processing temperature is too high, whether the material was adequately dried, and whether both primary and secondary antioxidants were added. Only after ruling out these three factors should you consider switching grades.
Provide a reference range for the market situation. According to the industry standard prices, commonly used antioxidants like 1010 and 168 cost about 30 to 60 yuan per kilogram, while 1098 is more expensive, ranging from 80 to 150 yuan, because it is specially made for PA. In the whole modified formulation, the cost of additives usually only accounts for 1% to 5% of the per-ton cost — such a small amount of money is really nothing compared to the entire batch. When Ningbo Kolon New Materials Co., Ltd. reports antioxidants, they will provide the market price for common varieties along with the thermal aging data for each batch, so you don’t have to ask prices everywhere yourself.
Saving money on materials goes as far as the two grams of antioxidants in the formula; the yellowed returned goods are enough for you to buy for a year.
The antioxidant system needs to be matched correctly; only then can the lifespan of one ton of material be maintained.
Ningbo Cologne New Materials Co., Ltd. has long-term supply of commonly used antioxidants 1010/1076/168/626/DLTDP, covering modification scenarios for substrates such as PP/PE/ABS/PC/PA.
Statement: The brands and trademarks mentioned in this article are owned by their respective original manufacturers. This article is a third-party material selection knowledge sharing, and the specific grades, parameters, prices, certifications, and other information involved in the text are subject to the latest official information from each manufacturer. This article does not constitute any procurement or investment advice.
