UV Stabilization of Polyolefines: An Overview

Polyolefins are one of the mostly used polymeric materials due to low prices and acceptable properties.But these polymers have low UV resistance and therefore it is highly recommended to stabilize them against UV light. This article reviews the effect of different stabilizers and combinations of them on the UV stability of polyolefines.These stabilizers are divided into four general categories: UV screeners, UV absorbers, excited state quenchers and free radical scavengers. Although the latter leads to an acceptable UV resistance in polyolefines, but to achieve the best results a combination of these stabilizers is used. Researches have recommended a trilogy combination of a HALS, a type of antioxidant and carbon black as the best stabilizing system for polyolefines.