STABILIZER (CHEMISTRY)

:''For other kinds of stabilizers, see Stabilizer.''
In chemistry a 'stabilizer' is a chemical which tends to inhibit the reaction between
two or more other chemicals. It can be thought of as the antonym to a catalyst.
Some kinds of stabilizers are:

★ antioxidants, preventing unwanted oxidation of materials

★ sequestrants, forming chelate complexes and inactivating traces of metal ions that would otherwise act as catalysts

★ ultraviolet stabilizers, protecting materials, especially plastics, from harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation

★
★ UV absorbers, chemicals absorbing ultraviolet radiation and preventing it from penetrating the materials; principially the same as sunscreens

★
★ quenchers, dissipating the radiation energy as heat instead of letting it break chemical bonds; often organic nickel salts, e.g. nickel phenolates

★
★ scavengers, eliminating the free radicals formed by ultraviolet radiation; often hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS)

Contents

See also

See also

★ Corrosion inhibitor