Organic peroxides can be decomposed thermally at relatively low temperatures. They also easily produce free radicals by reaction with reducing substances. The common properties of the free radicals are the addition reaction to an unsaturated double bond and the hydrogen abstraction reaction.
Based on the addition reaction, peroxides are widely used as polymerization initiators for various synthetic resins (LDPE, PVC, PS, ABS, PMMA, etc.) or as curing agents for unsaturated polyester resins, vinyl ester resins, etc.
Based on the abstraction reaction, they are used as crosslinking agents for a variety of synthetic rubbers and synthetic resins, fluidity modifiers for polypropylene, and agents for grafting maleic anhydride to polyolefins.