Abstract:
In a process for producing cross-linked polyethylene by (1) mixing polyethylene with 1 to 10 parts of a tertiary organic peroxide and (2) heating the mixture to effect cross-linking, the improvement of adding to the mixture before the cross-linking step about from 0.25 to 2 parts of a stabilizer which is an N,N''diaryl-p-phenylenediamine, all parts being by weight per 100 parts of polyethylene. A preferred diamine stabilizer weightper is that prepared by condensing 1 mole of hydroquinone with at least 2 moles of an amine mixture consisting of 75 to 90 percent by weight of o-toluidine and 25 to 10 percent by weight of technical mixed xylidines.