Antioxidants help in safeguarding the appearance and physical properties of polymers. They are made to make plastics more processable and less prone to thermal degradation when melted and exposed to high temperatures over extended periods of time.

While secondary antioxidants are used to preserve the thermal stability of polymers during operations (particularly in the case of reprocessed polymers where the polymer has varied heat histories), primary antioxidants are used to preserve the thermal stability of completed products.

Many applications, including reprocessed polymer, HDPE pipes, mulch films, greenhouse films, and rotomolded parts, need for the usage of antioxidants.