BASF’s light stabilizers help non-woven fabric manufacturer in China to improve productivity
- Light stabilizer package improves processing stability, resulting in cost savings
- Provides long-lasting protection against UV light, with high heat stability
Hong Kong – July 26, 2018 – Foshan Nanhai Beautiful Nonwoven Co. Ltd, a leading non-woven fabric manufacturer in China, is now producing high quality polypropylene (PP) non-woven fabric covers for cars in an improved manufacturing process thanks to BASF light stabilizers. The covers are used to protect cars from harmful UV rays and adverse weather conditions.
UV rays and high temperatures can damage the paint on a vehicle beyond recognition. The sun also increases the temperature in the car interior and can turn shiny new dashboards into cracked, warped chunks of plastic. Cars that spend a long time out in the open should stay under UV-treated car covers. These covers help reflect harmful UV rays and keep interior temperatures low.
To make such non-woven fabrics, PP material is spun into fine filaments and then bonded by heat without use of any binder. The processing of such materials is often conducted under high temperature processes and producers aim for effective production processing with limited downtimes. Usually the light stabilizer package will include a process stabilizer to protect the material during extrusion, and a UV stabilizer and a thermal stabilizer to protect it from heat and light degradation.
“During the production process, our light stabilizer helps to lower the tendency to melt fracture, making it suitable for highly demanding processing conditions involving high shear rates,” pointed out Hermann Althoff, Senior Vice President, Performance Chemicals Asia Pacific. “Better melt flow control reduces die build-up, optimizes filter pressure and allows longer running times, resulting in more stable processing and reduced maintenance costs.”
BASF’s range of light stabilizers include UV absorbers that act by shielding the polymer from UV light, and Hindered Amine Light Stabilizers (HALS) that act by removing the radical intermediates formed in the photo-oxidation process.
“With BASF’s light stabilizers we were able to improve our manufacturing productivity with a more efficient continuous production,” said Ms. Julia Luo, Excutive Vice President of Foshan Nanhai Beautiful Nonwoven Co. Ltd. “The stabilization technology increased the service life of the polymer and enabled us to expand our PP non-woven fabric business to outdoor applications as well.”
About BASF Plastic Additives
BASF is a leading supplier, manufacturer and innovation partner of plastic additives. Its comprehensive and innovative product portfolio includes stabilizers which provide ease in processing, heat and light resistance to a variety of polymers and applications including molded articles, films, fibers, sheets and extruded profiles. More information about plastic additives: www.plasticadditives.basf.com.
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The more than 115,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of €64.5 billion in 2017. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information at www.basf.com.
