Antidegradant blend

1. An antidegradant blend, comprising:

at least one metal carboxylate;

at least one inorganic phosphite comprising one or more metal hypophosphites;

at least one phenolic antioxidant; and

at least one organic phosphite antioxidant, wherein the at least one organic phosphite antioxidant is present in an amount of from 20% to 90% by weight of the antidegradant blend.

2. The antidegradant blend according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one metal carboxylate is a metal stearate, a metal lactate, a metal benzoate, or a combination thereof.

3. The antidegradant blend according to claim 2 , wherein:

a. the metal stearate is selected from the group consisting of calcium stearate, zinc stearate, aluminium stearate, magnesium stearate, sodium stearate, cadmium stearate, barium stearate, and mixtures thereof;

b. the metal lactate is selected from the group consisting of sodium lactate, magnesium lactate, calcium lactate, zinc lactate, mixtures thereof; and/or

c. the metal benzoate is selected from the group consisting of sodium benzoate, magnesium benzoate, calcium benzoate, zinc benzoate mixtures thereof.

4. The antidegradant blend according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one metal carboxylate is present in an amount ranging from 1% to 50%, by weight of the antidegradant blend.

5. The antidegradant blend according to claim 1 , wherein the metal of the one or more metal hypophosphites is an alkali metal selected from lithium, sodium, or potassium; and/or an alkaline earth metal selected from calcium or magnesium.

6. The antidegradant blend according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one inorganic phosphite is a sodium hypophosphite.

7. The antidegradant blend according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one inorganic phosphite is present in an amount ranging from 1% to 50%, by weight of the antidegradant blend.

8. The antidegradant blend according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one organic phosphite antioxidant is selected from the group consisting of bis(2,4,di-t-butylphenyl)pentaerythritol diphosphite; 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl-2-butyl-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol phosphite; tris(2,4-di-t-butylphenyl)phosphite; tetrakis (2,4-di-t-butylphenyl)4,4′-biphenylene diphosphonite; tris(4-n-nonylphenyl)phosphite; distearylpentaerythritol diphosphite; bis(2,4-dicumylphenyl) pentaerythritol diphosphite; phosphorus acid, mixed 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylpropyl)phenyl and 4-(1,1-dimethylpropyl)phenyl triesters—CAS 939402-02-5; tris(dipropyleneglycol) phosphite, C 18 H 39 O 9 P, poly(dipropylene glycol) phenyl phosphite; diphenyl isodecyl phosphite, C 22 H 31 O 3 P; phenyl diisodecyl phosphite; heptakis (dipropyleneglycol) triphosphite; bis(2,6-di-ter-butyl-4-methylphenyl)pentaerythritol diphosphite; and combinations thereof.

9. The antidegradant blend according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one organic phosphite antioxidant is present in an amount ranging from 30% to 80%, by weight of the antidegradant blend.

10. The antidegradant blend according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one phenolic antioxidant is a partially hindered phenolic antioxidant, a hindered phenolic antioxidant, or a combination thereof.

11. The antidegradant blend according to claim 10 , wherein:

a. the partially hindered phenolic antioxidant is selected from the group consisting of 2-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4,6-dimethyl-phenol; 6-tert-butyl-2-methylphenol; 4,6-di-tert-butyl-2-methylphenol; 2-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol; 2-tert-butyl-5-methylphenol; 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol; 2,4-di-tert-pentylphenol; triethyleneglycol-bis-[3-(3-t-butyl-4-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)propionate]; 1,3,5-tris(4-t-butyl-3-hydroxyl-2,6-dimethylbenzyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-(1H, 3H, 5H)-trione; 2,2′-ethylidenebis[4,6-di-t-butylphenol]; 2,2′methylenebis(6-t-butyl-4-methylphenol); the butylated reaction product of p-cresol and dicyclopentadiene; 2,6-xylenol; and combinations thereof; and/or

b. the hindered phenolic antioxidant is selected from the group consisting of C13-C15 linear and branched alkyl esters of 3-(3′5′-di-t-butyl-4′-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid; octadecyl 3-(3′,5′-di-t-butyl-4′-hydroxyphenyl) propionate; N,N′-hexamethylene bis[3-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionamide]; C9-C11 linear and branched alkyl esters of 3-(3′,5′-di-t-butyl-4′-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid; butylated hydroxytoluene; 2,6-di-tertiary-butyl-4-sec-butylphenol; 2,6-di-tertiary-butyl-4-nonylphenol; tetrakismethylene(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate) methane; 1,3,5-tris(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) isocyanurate; 1,2-bis(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamoyl)hydrazine, 2,2′thiodiethylene bis[3(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate]; 1,3,5-trimethyl-2,4,6-tris(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)benzene; and combinations thereof.

12. The antidegradant blend according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one phenolic antioxidant is present in an amount ranging from 1% to 50%, by weight of the antidegradant blend.

13. The antidegradant blend according claim 1 , further comprising one or more antioxidants selected from the group consisting of sulphur-containing antioxidants; aminic antioxidants; hydroxylamines or precursors thereof; lactone radical scavengers; acrylate radical scavengers; UV absorbers; and chelating agents.

14. A method of using the antidegradant blend according to claim 1 to stabilize a polymer, comprising the step of contacting a suitable amount of the antidegradant blend with a composition containing a polymer, resulting in a stabilized polymer.

15. A polymeric composition, comprising:

a polymeric base material; and

an antidegradant blend according to claim 1 .

16. The polymeric composition according to claim 15 , wherein the antidegradant blend is present in an amount ranging from 0.01% to 5%, by weight of the polymeric composition.

17. The polymeric composition according to claim 15 , wherein the polymeric base material is selected from the group consisting of a polyolefin, polystyrene, polyacrylonitrile, a polyacrylate, a polyurethane, a polyamide, a polyester, a polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, an elastomer, a rubber, and combinations, blends or copolymers thereof.

18. The polymeric composition according to claim 17 , wherein the polymeric base material is a polyolefin.

19. The polymeric composition according to claim 18 , wherein the polyolefin is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene, and copolymers thereof.