Stabilizer (chemistry)

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In chemistry a stabilizer is a chemical which tends to inhibit the reaction between two or more other chemicals.[citation needed] It can be thought of as the antonym to a catalyst. The term can also refer to a chemical that inhibits separation of suspensions, emulsions, and foams.[citation needed] Heat and light stabilizers are added to plastics and elastomers because they ensure safe processing and protect products against premature aging and weathering. The trend is towards fluid systems, pellets, and increased use of masterbatches. There are monofunctional, bifunctional, and polyfunctional stabilizers. In economic terms the most important product groups on the market for stabilizers are compounds based on calcium (calcium-zinc and organo-calcium), lead, and tin stabilizers as well as liquid and light stabilizers (HALS, benzophenone, benzotriazole). Cadmium-based stabilizers largely vanished in the last years due to health and environmental concerns.[1]

Some kinds of stabilizers are:

See also[edit]


  1. ^ Ceresana, Market Study Stabilizers, March 2014,