Antioxidant 1024 is a multifunctional polymer stabilizer that combines primary hindered-phenolic antioxidant activity with metal-deactivating performance. Its main value is in polymer systems where copper or other reactive metals can accelerate oxidative degradation, including wire and cable compounds, metal-contact plastic parts, elastomers, filled polyolefins, adhesives, coatings, and selected engineering-plastic formulations. By reducing metal-catalyzed oxidation while also interrupting free-radical degradation, Antioxidant 1024 can improve processing stability and long-term heat-aging performance. For copper-contact applications, commercial technical guidance commonly evaluates it at low dosage levels, but the final concentration should always be confirmed through formulation trials.
Quick Technical Summary
| Property | Typical / General Information |
| Product type | Primary hindered phenolic antioxidant and metal deactivator |
| CAS number | 32687-78-8 |
| Common chemical description | Bis-hindered-phenol hydrazide metal deactivator |
| Physical form | White to slightly yellowish crystalline powder; powder/free-flow grades are commercially available |
| Typical melting range | About 221-232°C depending on commercial grade and test method |
| Primary function | Protection against thermo-oxidative degradation and metal-catalyzed oxidation |
| Key metal-contact use | Copper-contact polymer systems, especially wire and cable insulation |
| Representative copper-contact use level | About 0.1-0.2% in BASF technical guidance; optimize by testing |
Product Overview
What Is Antioxidant 1024?
Antioxidant 1024, also called MD 1024, is a specialty stabilizer for polymers exposed to catalytic metal residues or direct metal contact. CAS 32687-78-8 identifies the material. Major commercial suppliers classify it as both a metal deactivator and an antioxidant. This dual role distinguishes it from conventional primary antioxidants that mainly focus on trapping oxidation-generated radicals.
In many polymer applications, heat and oxygen are not the only causes of aging. Trace amounts of copper, iron, or other transition metals can accelerate oxidative reactions and substantially increase the rate of polymer deterioration. This is especially important when a polymer is used directly against copper conductors, metallic inserts, fillers containing trace metals, or components exposed to metal-containing process residues. Antioxidant 1024 is formulated for these situations because its molecular structure can help reduce the catalytic activity of metals while its hindered phenolic groups contribute to radical-scavenging stabilization.
Read more: What Are Polymer Antioxidants? A Complete Industrial Guide
How Antioxidant 1024 Works
Polymer oxidation usually proceeds through a radical chain mechanism. Heat, shear, oxygen, light, and contaminants can initiate radical formation. Those radicals react with oxygen to form peroxy radicals and hydroperoxides, which can continue the degradation cycle. Primary hindered phenolic antioxidants interrupt this chain by donating hydrogen to reactive radicals and converting them into more stable species.
Antioxidant 1024 adds another function: metal deactivation. Copper and other transition metals can catalyze hydroperoxide decomposition, generating new radicals and accelerating oxidation. A metal deactivator coordinates with reactive metal species and reduces their catalytic effect. In practical terms, this means the additive is particularly useful when conventional antioxidant protection alone does not adequately control degradation caused by metal contact.
Because the formulation challenge differs from one resin to another, Antioxidant 1024 is often used as part of a stabilizer package rather than as a universal standalone solution. Depending on the polymer, processing temperature, service environment, and expected lifetime, formulators may combine it with other hindered phenols, phosphites, thioesters, light stabilizers, or application-specific additives. Compatibility and dosage should be validated using heat-aging, mechanical-property retention, color, extraction, and processing tests relevant to the final product.
Typical Physical and Technical Characteristics
Technical data published for established commercial grades describes Antioxidant 1024 as a white to slightly yellowish crystalline powder with very low water solubility. BASF reports a molecular weight of approximately 553 g/mol and a typical melting range of 221-232°C for Irganox MD 1024. Mayzo reports a similar melting point range of 224-229°C for BNX MD-1024. These values are useful for product identification and formulation screening, but suppliers emphasize that typical values are not guaranteed specifications. Procurement decisions should therefore be based on the actual manufacturer TDS, specification sheet, COA, and SDS for the offered grade.
Applications
The strongest application case for Antioxidant 1024 is any polymer system in which metal exposure can accelerate aging. Commercial supplier literature consistently emphasizes copper-contact and wire-and-cable uses, while also listing several elastomer, polyolefin, styrenic, adhesive, coating, and fabricated-plastic applications.
Wire and Cable Insulation
Wire and cable is the best-known use of Antioxidant 1024. Copper conductors can promote oxidation in surrounding polymer insulation, especially during long-term exposure to elevated temperature. This can lead to embrittlement, loss of elongation, cracking, and deterioration of electrical or mechanical performance. Antioxidant 1024 helps limit this copper-catalyzed oxidation and is therefore used in polyethylene and polyolefin-based wire and cable resin systems. Supplier guidance also identifies high- and low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, crosslinked polyethylene, and some thermoplastic elastomers among relevant substrates.
For applications in direct contact with copper during processing or service, BASF technical guidance recommends evaluating a concentration range of approximately 0.1-0.2% for its MD 1024 grade. This should be treated as a formulation starting point rather than a universal recipe. Cable construction, conductor temperature, polymer grade, crosslinking chemistry, other stabilizers, and required aging standards can all change the optimum dosage.
Filled Polyolefins and Metal-Contact Plastic Parts
Mineral-filled polypropylene and polyethylene compounds can contain trace metallic impurities originating from fillers, pigments, recycled streams, processing equipment, or other formulation components. Where these residues increase oxidation, a metal deactivator can provide an additional stabilization mechanism. Antioxidant 1024 is therefore relevant to filled polyolefins, molded parts around metal inserts, gaskets, housings, and fabricated components that remain in prolonged contact with metals.
This function can be especially important in durable products that are expected to retain mechanical properties after extended heat exposure. However, it is not automatically necessary in every filled formulation. A comparative aging study with and without the metal deactivator is the best way to establish whether metal-catalyzed degradation is a meaningful failure mechanism.
Read more: Primary vs Secondary Antioxidants: What’s the Difference?
Elastomers, Hoses, and Rubber Systems
Commercial technical literature lists NBR fuel-hose systems, SBR, crosslinked SBR, EPDM, unsaturated elastomers, and selected thermoplastic elastomers among possible application areas. In these systems, Antioxidant 1024 may be selected where metal contact, metal-containing contaminants, or aggressive service conditions contribute to oxidative aging. Extraction resistance is also valuable in applications involving oils or fuels, because stabilizer loss can reduce long-term protection.
In elastomer formulations, the additive should be assessed alongside the curing system, carbon black or filler package, oil type, processing aids, and other antioxidants. The required dosage can differ significantly from thermoplastic formulations, so supplier-specific recommendations and application testing are important.
Styrenic Polymers and Engineering Plastics
Antioxidant 1024 can also be considered in styrene homo- and copolymers and in selected engineering-plastic formulations where reactive metals or metal residues are a stability concern. Mayzo, for example, identifies styrenic polymers and polyacetal-related applications in its technical guidance. In engineering plastics, the practical reason to use Antioxidant 1024 is not simply that the resin is an engineering polymer; it is that the application has a metal-catalyzed oxidation risk that a standard antioxidant package may not fully address.
This distinction is important for formulation accuracy. High-performance polymers may already use specialized antioxidant systems tailored to their processing temperatures and end-use requirements. Antioxidant 1024 should therefore be selected based on metal exposure, compatibility, processing stability, thermal-aging data, and regulatory requirements rather than by polymer family alone.
Adhesives, Coatings, and Sealants
Supplier literature also identifies coatings, adhesives, sealants, hot-melt adhesives, solvent-based adhesives, and coatings applied to metals as relevant application areas. These systems may experience metal-catalyzed discoloration, viscosity change, oxidation, or property loss during processing and service. Antioxidant 1024 can contribute both antioxidant and metal-deactivating effects, making it useful when the formulation is expected to contact reactive metal surfaces or contaminants.
Benefits
Dual Antioxidant and Metal-Deactivating Action
The central benefit of Antioxidant 1024 is multifunctionality. It contributes primary antioxidant activity while also reducing the catalytic effect of copper and other reactive metals. This can simplify stabilizer design in applications where both conventional thermo-oxidative degradation and metal-catalyzed oxidation must be controlled.
Improved Protection in Copper-Contact Applications
Copper is highly relevant in electrical and electronic applications because it is an excellent conductor but can accelerate polymer oxidation when the surrounding insulation system is not properly stabilized. Antioxidant 1024 is specifically positioned for polymer-copper interfaces, making it a targeted choice for wire insulation and components that remain in long-term contact with copper conductors or inserts.
Processing and Long-Term Thermal Stabilization
BASF describes its MD 1024 grade as providing processing stabilization and long-term protection for polymers in contact with copper. During compounding and conversion, thermal and shear stress can initiate oxidation before the product even enters service. A well-designed antioxidant system helps maintain polymer molecular weight, viscosity, color, and mechanical properties through processing and subsequent heat aging.
Extraction Resistance
Extraction resistance is valuable when a polymer is exposed to fluids, oils, fuels, or water. If a stabilizer is readily extracted, its concentration in the polymer can fall over time, reducing protection. Major supplier literature highlights the extraction resistance of Antioxidant 1024, which supports its use in selected hoses, elastomeric components, adhesives, and other environments where contact with liquids may occur.
Read more: Why Antioxidants Are Essential in Plastic Manufacturing
Compatibility with Broader Stabilizer Packages
Antioxidant 1024 can be used alone in some applications, but it is frequently evaluated in combination with other stabilizers. BASF notes use with other phenolic antioxidants such as Antioxidant 1010, while Mayzo describes combinations with hindered phenols, phosphites, thioethers, HALS, UV absorbers, and benzoates. Such combinations can address different degradation pathways, but synergistic performance depends on the resin and service conditions. Laboratory trials are therefore more reliable than simply increasing additive loading.
Practical Formulation Considerations
Before selecting Antioxidant 1024, formulators should define the actual degradation mechanism and performance target. A useful evaluation program normally compares the base formulation against formulations containing the metal deactivator at several concentration levels. Testing may include oven aging, tensile-strength retention, elongation retention, melt-flow or viscosity change, color development, copper-contact aging, extraction resistance, and application-specific electrical or mechanical tests.
Procurement teams should also verify product identity and consistency. The supplied grade should match CAS No. 32687-78-8 and be supported by a current TDS, SDS, and COA. Because commercial grades can differ in particle form, flow characteristics, purity limits, and approved uses, technical equivalency should not be assumed from the product name alone. For regulated applications, confirm the compliance status of the specific supplier grade in the target market.
When Should You Consider Antioxidant 1024?
- The polymer is in direct or prolonged contact with copper or another reactive metal.
- Heat-aging failures are more severe in the presence of metal inserts, conductors, or contaminants.
- A standard phenolic antioxidant package does not provide sufficient protection against metal-catalyzed oxidation.
- The application requires a stabilizer with good resistance to extraction by oils, fuels, or water.
- The formulation uses wire-and-cable resins, filled polyolefins, selected elastomers, styrenic polymers, adhesives, coatings, sealants, or metal-contact fabricated plastics.
- The project can support laboratory trials to optimize dosage and verify long-term performance.
FAQs
What is Antioxidant 1024 used for?
Antioxidant 1024 is used to protect polymers against thermo-oxidative degradation and, importantly, against oxidation accelerated by copper or other reactive metals. Typical applications include wire and cable compounds, filled polyolefins, elastomers, styrenic polymers, adhesives, coatings, sealants, and metal-contact plastic parts.
Is Antioxidant 1024 a primary or secondary antioxidant?
It is generally classified as a primary hindered phenolic antioxidant with additional metal-deactivating functionality. Its value comes from combining radical-scavenging antioxidant activity with protection against metal-catalyzed degradation.
What is the CAS number of Antioxidant 1024?
The CAS number is 32687-78-8. This identifier should be checked on the supplier TDS, SDS, and COA when comparing commercial grades.
Why is Antioxidant 1024 used in wire and cable materials?
Copper conductors can catalyze oxidation in adjacent polymer insulation. Antioxidant 1024 helps reduce the harmful catalytic effect of copper while also contributing antioxidant protection, which supports long-term heat-aging stability.
What dosage of Antioxidant 1024 should be used?
There is no single universal dosage. BASF recommends evaluating about 0.1-0.2% for applications in contact with copper, while other supplier guidance may cover somewhat broader ranges depending on the substrate. The optimum level should be determined by laboratory and application testing.
Can Antioxidant 1024 be combined with Antioxidant 1010?
Yes. Supplier technical guidance specifically notes that Antioxidant 1024 may be combined with other phenolic antioxidants such as Antioxidant 1010. It may also be evaluated with phosphites, thioethers, and light stabilizers when the formulation requires broader protection.
Is Antioxidant 1024 suitable for engineering plastics?
It can be useful in selected engineering-plastic systems when metal exposure or metal residues contribute to degradation. Selection should be based on the specific polymer, processing temperature, metal-contact condition, required lifetime, and validated compatibility rather than on the engineering-plastic label alone.
What should be checked before purchasing Antioxidant 1024?
Confirm CAS No. 32687-78-8, current TDS and SDS, COA parameters, physical form, melting range, purity-related specifications, packaging, storage conditions, regulatory status for the intended market, and technical equivalency with the grade used in your formulation trials.
Conclusion
Antioxidant 1024 is best understood as a specialty multifunctional stabilizer for polymer systems where metals can accelerate oxidation. Its combination of hindered-phenolic antioxidant activity and metal deactivation makes it particularly relevant to copper-contact wire and cable materials, but its use extends to filled polyolefins, elastomers, styrenic polymers, adhesives, coatings, sealants, and selected engineering-plastic applications. The most important formulation principle is to match the additive to the actual failure mechanism. Where copper or other metals are driving premature aging, Antioxidant 1024 can provide a level of protection that a conventional antioxidant alone may not deliver.
For industrial use, start with supplier guidance, then optimize the formulation under realistic processing and service conditions. Confirm technical identity through the current TDS, SDS, and COA, and avoid treating typical property values as guaranteed specifications. This approach gives compounders and processors a more reliable basis for improving heat-aging stability, maintaining mechanical performance, and extending the service life of metal-contact polymer systems.
