Types of Stabilizers

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are substances which prevent the unwanted oxidation of materials. They inhibit oxidation reactions by free radicals in the human body before they can do any harm.
For example, glutathione, vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin E as well as enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase and various peroxidases.

Sequestering Agents

Sequestering agents form chelate complexes and inactivates traces of metal ions that would otherwise act as catalysts and become inconvenience for different processes that are to be applied on materials, hence they inhibit the action of metallic ions by forming complexes. For example, EDTA and DTPA.

Emulsifier

An emulsifier, also known as an emulgent, is a substance that stabilizes an emulsion by increasing its kinetic stability and inhibits the separation of dispersed liquids which are dispersed into another medium. For example, egg yolk, soy lecithin, DATEM.

Bleach Stabilizer

Bleach stabilizer are chemical substances which are used to stabilize or control the liberation of bleaching species (perhydroxyl ions, Chlorine dioxide) from the bleaching agent (E.g., H2O2 , NaClO2 ) in textile bleaching to prevent the decomposition of bleach and also acts as a buffer to maintain the pH of bleaching bath at optimum level. It also prevents the degradation of fibres.
There are various types of bleach stabilizers:

• Alkali-based Stabilizer: Caustic soda (NaOH), Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), silicates.
• Dispersants: Acrylates, Phosphonates etc.
• Inorganic Stabilizer: Magnesium salts.

Scavengers

A scavenger in chemistry is a chemical substance added to a mixture in order to remove or de-activate impurities and unwanted reaction products, for example oxidation, to make sure that they will not do any unfavorable reactions.
Scavengers can be used in textile industry as stabilizers against light-induced polymer degradation eliminating the free radicals formed by ultraviolet radiation. The most commonly used scavenger is Hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS).

Ultraviolet stabilizers

Ultraviolet stabilizers are the ones which protect the various materials, especially plastics, from harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. There are 2 kinds of Ultraviolet stabilizers.

• UV absorbers: Chemicals absorbing ultraviolet radiation and preventing it from penetrating the materials, principally the same as sunscreens.
• Quenchers: Dissipating the radiation energy as heat instead of letting it break chemical bonds, often organic nickel salts.