HC Plastics News: UV radiation is the main factor for plastic premature aging in sunlight

New tools help to precisely apply plastic additives to extend the life of plastic products as much as possible

BASF recently developed a new tool with the German Space Center (DLR) and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center to accurately select the appropriate plastic additives based on the predicted intensity of UV radiation to maximize the use of plastic products. life. The global ultraviolet radiation maps drawn by scientists from both institutions accurately show the intensity of ultraviolet radiation in all regions. Manufacturers can use them to optimize the amount of plastic additives and produce rugged plastics for the specific requirements of their region.

Dr. Volker Bach, Head of BASF's Global Centre for Plastics Additives, said: "The new global UV radiation mapping tool helps BASF improve the accuracy of expected life of plastic products in specific environments and reduce the risk of product failure due to climatic conditions. The way we can help our customers choose the right performance stabilization system and optimize the amount of added material to protect the plastic material."

Ultraviolet radiation is a major factor in the premature aging of plastic products in daylight, and end-use applications in agriculture, construction or automotive are affected. If the BASF light stabilizer is used correctly in the formulation, it can effectively protect the harmful effects of UV radiation on the plastic; however, the manufacturer must accurately predict the UV irradiation intensity for the application location and expected service life of the product.

Small changes in geographic location have a significant impact on the intensity of UV radiation, which in turn affects the ageing of plastics. For example, Northern and Central Europe have generally high UV radiation intensity, while outdoor plastic products in Southern Europe or Asia often suffer from severe wear and tear. In China, India, parts of Australia and the Mediterranean, the level of irradiation is close to that of the Sahara, and for the agricultural customers here, the stability of the greenhouse film is particularly important.

Various influencing factors

DLR and NASA have developed a dynamic ultraviolet radiation modeling tool that uses satellite and ground station measurements to calculate the amount of solar ultraviolet radiation reaching the ground. Factors affecting UV radiation include: time, season and geographic location. In addition, they must also consider the spatial and temporal distribution of clouds, atmospheric ozone, snow, ice, and terrain. These all help to more accurately predict local UV intensity and UV radiation flux density. The new global UV radiation mapping tool is accurate to the city level and reveals many microclimates caused by elevated UV radiation – previously unknown.

VolkerBach explains: “The information on the distribution and intensity of UV radiation is very helpful for BASF – they can be used not only for the development of new plastic additives, but also as a factor in our recommendation for our customers. For plastics manufacturers The advantage is that it can provide more accurate life prediction and cost savings for plastic products for long-term outdoor applications."

The DLR full version of the Global UV Radiation Database is currently only available to BASF.

Editor in charge: Ye Dan