New light stablizer reduces plastic weathering
to be approved forfood contact applications worldwide, claims BASF.
BASF said its light stabilizer Uvinul 4050 H has obtained a food contact notification (FCN) for the use in plasticsthat come into contact with foods. The approval was granted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Uvinul 4050 H belongs to the group of low molecular-mass sterically hindered amines (monomericHALS). It scavenges the free radicals that are formed when plastics are degraded by exposure to light and renders them harmless. This helps to prevent further degradation of the polymer, and it retains its initial visual appearance and mechanical properties much longer.
"A low-molecular-mass HALS offers the most effective solution for stabilizing plastics such as ABS andpolypropylene," BASF stated in announcing the product today. "Up until now, compromises have had to be made because of the lack of approval for stabilizers for plastics intended for use in food-contact applications. Following the approval of Uvinul 4050 H, plastics for food-contact applications can now fulfill the highest standards of resistance to weathering."
Uvinul 4050 H is designed to be used in polypropylene, polystyrene, styrene copolymers and acrylonitrile copolymers that come into contact with foodstuffs.Such applications include its use to make woven fiber sacks such as bulk bags, flour sacks and corn sacks, electricalkitchen equipment, thermoformed packaging such as yoghurt beakers, and disposable cutlery.
The FDA approval allows Uvinul 4050 H to be used at a concentration of up to 0.5 per cent in polystyrene, styrene copolymers and acrylonitrile copolymers.
It is also approved for use at a concentration of up to 0.25 per cent in polypropylene in contact with all types of foodstuffs except those with an alcohol content of more thaneight per cent.
Uvinul 4050 H can also be used for fibers and injection-molding from plastics such as polypropylene or polyamide.Uvinul 4050 H is part of BASF's range of light stabilizers that are approved for use in food-contact applications.
