BASF light stabilizers protect oil spill barriers from degradation by intense sunlight

• Additives package provides long-lasting protection to oil spill barriers against harsh weather conditions
• Longer durability reduces environmental impact and saves costs

Hong Kong – May 28, 2019 – Marine oil spill barriers, also known as oil containment booms, can  last longer and keep oil spills under control even under intense sunlight, thanks to light stabilizers from BASF. Wonpoong Corporation in South Korea is now using BASF’s Tinuvin^® range of plastic additives  to increase the lifespan of oil containment booms, thereby reducing the maintenance costs and environmental impact.

A containment boom is a heavy-duty debris and oil spill containment barrier, designed for a long service life with minimal maintenance. Made with marine grade components and oil-rated fabrics, these barriers can float in the water and contain oil while spill recovery is underway. This reduces the possibility of polluting shorelines and other resources, and to help make recovery easier.

The barrier fabric is usually made of woven polyester that is impregnated with polyurethane for better resistance to both abrasion and tear. The fabric is orange in color, and requires protection from prolonged UV and hydrocarbon exposure which shortens the fabric life.

“Light stabilizers reduce and significantly delay the loss of optical and mechanical properties of plastic articles used in outdoor applications,” said Hermann Althoff, Senior Vice President, of BASF’s Performance Chemicals unit in Asia Pacific, BASF. “Our light stabilizers can increase the service life of the product several times, and simultaneously reduce the resource consumption caused by the aging of the product.”

Wonpoong chose a blend of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) to manufacture the foam-filled oil containment booms. However, they do have some disadvantages. While TPU has better wear strength and softness compared to PVC, due to its poor resistance to light, TPU is easily discolored.

“We needed to strengthen the chemical resistance of PVC while enhancing the light resistance of TPU,” said John Yu, Director of R&D at Wonpoong Corporation. “As a result, we required a light stabilizer with improved resistance to UV radiation that could preserve the original appearance and physical properties of the material.”

The choice was a light stabilizer package from BASF’s Tinuvin^® range, that is ideal for PVC alloys like PVC/PUR. This high performance light stabilizer system is based on compounds of the sterically hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS). The hindered amines act in a similar manner to how  vitamin C protects the human body; they intercept radicals and make them harmless. The duration of this protective effect can be controlled by selecting a specific stabilizer additive.

 

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.

BASF Plastic Additives is part of BASF’s Performance Chemicals division. The division’s portfolio also includes Fuel and Lubricant Solutions, Kaolin Minerals, as well as Oilfield and Mining Solutions. Customers from a variety of industries including Chemical, Plastic, Consumer Goods, Energy & Resources and Automotive & Transportation benefit from our innovative solutions. To learn more, visit http://www.performancechemicals.basf.com.

 

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 122,000 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 six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of around €63 billion in 2018. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.

 

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