Radial abundance gradients of the element ratios O/H, Ne/H, S/H, and Ar/H are determined on the basis of a sample of disk planetary nebulae. The behaviour of the gradients at large distances from the galactic centre, R>R_0_=7.6kpc, is emphasized. It is concluded that the derived gradients are consistent with an approximately constant slope in the inner parts of the Galaxy, and some flattening for distances larger than R_0_. A comparison is made with previous determinations using both photoionized nebulae and young stars, and some consequences on theoretical models for the chemical evolution of the galactic disk are discussed.