Ultraviolet (UV) Absorbers Effectively Prevent Harmful Radical Formation

 

Ultraviolet (UV) Absorbers are chemicals used to protect plastics and other materials from UV degradation (photo-oxidation). The absorber chemical is incorporated into the polymer, preventing the free radicals that form when UV light is absorbed by the polymer. The absorber is often used in conjunction with a hindered amine light stabilizer, or HALS, to maximize protection.

There are many different types of Ultraviolet (UV) Absorbers, depending on the chemical structure. These include salicylates, benzophenones, benzotriazoles and substituted acrylonitriles among others. They are used in a variety of industries such as plastics, paints, dyes, automotive windshields, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and sunscreens to name a few.

In recent years, a number of new ultraviolet (UV) absorbers have been developed to overcome some of the challenges faced by existing products in the market. These absorbers offer several benefits over their predecessors, including improved light stability, high absorption performance and a broad spectrum. They are also relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use and have applications across a wide range of industries.

The most important feature of these UV absorbers is their ability to effectively prevent the formation of harmful radicals that can degrade the plastics and other materials. They work by scavenging these radicals, preventing them from forming and subsequently regenerating themselves.

These compounds are available in a variety of strengths and can be blended together to provide optimum protection for the materials that they are protecting. Generally, the higher the concentration of UV absorbers that are used, the better the protection they will provide.

These two compounds are commonly used in plastics as they provide excellent protection from UV degradation, which is an extremely common problem for most synthetic plastics. They are low in volatility, have good dispersion properties, have a wide spectrum of absorption and offer good resistance to solvents and heat.

They have a high degree of resistance to degrading agents such as chlorinated paraffin and hydrocarbons, which can damage polymers. They are also able to resist thermal degradation, which is essential for certain plastics and polymers that need to be processed at elevated temperatures.

A few of these compounds also have a high degree of light stability, which is beneficial for the production of clear and translucent plastics and adhesives that need to be stored in bright or dark areas. They can be mixed with other additives to increase their light stability and improve the color brilliance and life span of a product. In May 2022, BASF launched its novel light stabilizers and UV absorbers to keep the UV rays from degrading coatings and compromising performance over time.