Though limited by the types of polymers they work with, UV stabilizers have greater efficiency in protecting materials from ultraviolet damage. Stabilizers also have the benefit of protecting against thermal damage, something absorbers and quenchers don't do. When a project also needs protection from the heat, HALS offer dual heat and light damage resistance. Interestingly, predictions put HALS as the type of UV additive most likely to be the most popular and grow the most from 2016 through 2021. The multiple applications for HALS, in addition to a growing market for plastics, make this prediction a high likelihood.
When thin products require ultraviolet protection, HALS work better than UV absorbers. This product also has a wide-ranging versatility. Its myriad of molecular weights allows it to have an application in coatings and plastics. Polypropylene and many other polymers can use HALS during their production, including at the stages of sheet or profile extrusion and blow or injection molding.
Because thickness does not affect the performance of HALS, the percentages used and depth of the product do not need to have large measures. Whereas UV absorbers function best when they can have a thicker layer or higher concentration to improve protection, HALS work well even with lower concentrations. For applications on thin polymer layers or when the longevity of UV protection is imperative, stabilizers such as HALS are a better choice when working with compatible polymers.
