A polymer composite comprising a thermoplastic polymer compounded with a
phenolic antioxidant, an organo-disulfide antioxidant, and a silver-based
antimicrobial agent. The specified combination of antioxidant stabilizers
is superior in inhibiting undesirable discoloration of thermoplastic
polymers in the presence of compounded silver-based antimicrobial agents.
A process of preparing such a composite, comprising compounding the
phenolic antioxidant and organo-disulfide antioxidant with the
thermoplastic polymer prior to compounding the silver-based antimicrobial
agent with the thermoplastic polymer.