UV stabilisers

UV-stabilised grades exhibit reduced tendency to yellowing by the use of stabilisers such as benzophenone and benzotriazole compounds (see also Section 7.5.4). 

As already shown, it is technically possible to incorporate additive functional groups within the structure of a polymer itself, thus dispensing with easily extractable small-molecular additives. However, the various attempts of incorporation of additive functionalities into the polymer chain, by copolymerisation or free radical initiated grafting, have not yet led to widespread practical use, mainly for economical reasons. Many macromolecular stabiliser-functionalised systems and reactive stabiliser-functionalised monomers have been described (cf. ref. [576]). Examples are bound-in chromophores, e.g. the benzotriazole moiety incorporated into polymers [577,578], but also copolymerisation with special monomers containing an inhibitor structural unit, leading to the incorporation of the antioxidant into the polymer chain. Copolymers of styrene and benzophenone-type UV stabilisers have been described [579]. Chemical combination of an antioxidant with the polymer leads to a high degree of resistance to (oil) extraction. 

The concentration of the UV stabiliser 2 hydroxy-4-octoxybenzophenone in LDPE film was measured by... 

NMR spectroscopy is most effective in qualitative analysis when the samples examinated are substantially pure compounds and has been used to confirm the theoretically predicted low-energy conformations of the Af-acylated hindered amine light stabiliser Tinuvin 440 [210]. Trace amounts of PDMS (quantification limit 0.1 ppm) in plastic additives, dyes and pigments were determined by 111 NMR after Soxhlet extraction [211]. ll NMR was also used for the detection of octadecanol, an impurity in Irganox PS 802 (3,3 -dioctadecyl thiodipropionate). NMR has identified the nature of a supposedly UV stabiliser of empirical formula C17H18N3CIO [44] (Scheme 5.2). 

FAB application to UV stabilisers in polymers has been discussed in two reports. Layer et al. [97] applied FAB together with FD and ESR to study oxidation... 

Meyer-Dulheuer [55] has analysed the pure additives (phenolic antioxidants, benzotriazole UV stabilisers and HALS compounds) of Table 9.8 in THF solutions by means of MALDI-ToFMS. As it turns out, polar molecules in the mass range of below 800 Da, which have a high absorption coefficient at the laser wavelength used, can often be measured without any matrix [55,56]. In this case, there is no matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionisation (MALDI) process any more. It is a simple laser desorption/ionisation (LDI) process. The advantage of this method is a matrix-free mass spectrum with the same mass resolution as in the MALDI case,... 

Saturated hydrocarbons (waxes), fatty acids, metal soaps, fatty acid amides and esters (primarily Cig-Cis) act as internal lubricants, fluoro elastomers as external lubricants. Many other polymer additives, e.g. antistatic agents, antifogs, antioxidants, UV stabilisers, etc., act as lubricants in the barrel of the extruder once they are in the liquid form. 

UV stabilisers protect polymers by restricting UV penetration to the surface and therefore confine the damage to surface layers. Protection is important because the energy possessed by UV radiation is sufficient to break chemical bonds. The initial breakage can either be by a radical (Norrish type I) or non-radical (Norrish type II) pathway. The effects are similar to degradation of the polymer by oxidation routes the radical intermediates can be neutralised by anti-oxidants. 

These compounds are multifunctional additives. They can act as heat stabilisers, radical traps, decompose hydroperoxides, UV absorbers, etc. (iv) UV absorbers. This is the largest class of UV stabilisers. They work on the same principle as sun-screen lotions they contain chromophores that can absorb light in the 280-400 nm region and release the excess energy as heat and not high-energy radiation. They must be stable under processing conditions and should not react with the polymer nor decompose with UV radiation. 

Other spherical fillers include carbon black. This has several roles particularly in combination with elastomers, e.g., black pigment, anti-oxidant and UV stabiliser, reinforcing filler, and an electrical conductor when used at 60% concentration. Wood flour is particularly effective in phenol/formaldehyde and melamine or urea/formaldehyde thermoset resins because the phenolic lignin component in the wood reacts with the methylol groups (-CH2OH) in the growing polymer. 

Light/UV stabilisers Benzophenones, benzotriazoles, hindered amines... 

In studies for the U.K. Food Standards Agency, Sidwell and Zondervan [10] also examined the determination of benzophenone and benzotriazole UV stabilisers by LC-MS. Specific detection parameters using the elution conditions given in Section 3.4 are given in Table 9. 

Organotin compounds are ubiquitous in the environment because of their widespread use as thermal and UV stabilisers for polyvinyl chloride (PVC), in agro-... 

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