TPU yellowing agent: an ideal environmentally friendly additive to help green production

TPU yellowing agent: ideal for green production

In today's society, environmental protection has become the focus of global attention. Whether it is industrial production or daily life, people are looking for more environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions. TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) is widely used in many fields as a high-performance material. However, TPU materials are prone to yellowing during use, which not only affects the appearance quality of the product, but may also reduce its performance. To solve this problem, TPU yellowing agents came into being. It is an ideal environmentally friendly additive that can effectively prevent TPU materials from yellowing under light, high temperature and other conditions, thereby extending the service life of the product and improving product quality.

This article will introduce in detail the characteristics, types, applications of TPU yellowing agents and their important role in promoting green production. Through in-depth analysis of relevant domestic and foreign literature, we will explore how this additive can help companies achieve a more environmentally friendly production method while maintaining high quality of products. In addition, we will provide a detailed parameter table so that readers can better understand the specific characteristics of TPU yellowing agents and their performance in different application scenarios.

What is TPU yellowing agent?

TPU yellowing agent is a chemical additive specially used to improve the anti-yellowing properties of TPU materials. Its main function is to prevent the material from turning yellowing due to long-term exposure to ultraviolet rays or high-temperature environments by inhibiting or delaying the oxidation reaction in the TPU molecular chain. This additive is usually present in powder or liquid form, is easy to mix with other materials and does not significantly alter the basic physical and mechanical properties of the TPU.

The working principle of TPU yellowing agent

The mechanism of action of TPU yellowing agent can be divided into two main aspects:

Radical Capture: Under ultraviolet irradiation, free radicals may be produced in the chain of TPU molecules, which will trigger a series of chain reactions, which will eventually cause the material to turn yellow. Yellowing agents can protect the TPU material from damage by capturing these free radicals, preventing them from reacting further.
Light stabilization effect: Some yellowing agents also have the function of absorbing ultraviolet rays, which reduces the direct damage to TPU materials by converting ultraviolet rays into harmless thermal energy or light with longer wavelengths.

Main components and categories

Depending on the chemical structure and mechanism of action, TPU yellowing agents can be divided into the following categories:

Hidden amines (HALS): This type of compound is known for its excellent light stability, which can effectively capture free radicals and interrupt the oxidation process.
Ultraviolet absorber: reduces the impact of ultraviolet rays on TPU by absorbing ultraviolet rays and converting them into heat energy to release them.
Antioxidants: It is mainly used to prevent thermal oxygen aging and delay the degradation rate of TPU in high-temperature environments.

Category	Main Ingredients	Features	Application Scenario
Trumped amines	Compounds such as BEMT	Efficiently capture free radicals	TPU products for outdoor use
Ultraviolet absorber	Compounds such as UV-531	Absorb UV rays	Auto interior parts
Antioxidants	Compounds such as Irganox 1076	Delays thermal oxygen aging	Industrial Equipment Parts

Application of TPU yellowing agent

TPU yellowing agent has been widely used in many industries due to its excellent performance. The following are several major application areas:

Auto Industry

In automobile manufacturing, TPU is widely used to make interior parts such as instrument panels, seat covers, steering wheel covers, etc. Since these components need to be exposed to sunlight for a long time, using TPU yellowing agents can significantly improve their anti-yellowing ability and maintain the freshness and aesthetics of the interior parts.

Medical Devices

The medical field has extremely high requirements for the stability and safety of materials. TPU is often used to make medical devices such as catheters and infusion bags due to its good biocompatibility and elasticity. After adding yellowing agent, it not only enhances the durability of the TPU, but also ensures that it does not change color during disinfection and storage, ensuring product reliability.

Sports Equipment

TPU materials are also commonly used in sports equipment such as sports soles and skis. By adding appropriate yellowing agents, these equipment can be ensured to maintain bright colors and excellent performance when used outdoors, meeting athletes' needs for high-quality equipment.

Status of domestic and foreign research

In recent years, with the increase of environmental awareness and technological advancement, the research on TPU yellowing agents has made significant progress. Some well-known foreign companies such as BASF and Clariant have developed a variety of efficient yellowing agent products.. For example, the Tinuvin series of UV absorbers launched by BASF has proven to perform well in a variety of TPU applications.

in the country, related research is also developing rapidly. A study from the Department of Chemical Engineering of Tsinghua University shows that by optimizing the formulation of yellowing agents, its anti-yellowing ability can be greatly improved without sacrificing other performances of the TPU. In addition, a research team from the Department of Polymer Science and Engineering of Zhejiang University found that the use of certain new nanomaterials in combination with traditional yellowing agents can produce synergistic effects and further improve the overall performance of TPU materials.

Research Case Analysis

Case 1: BASF Tinuvin series

BASF's Tinuvin series UV absorbers adopt advanced molecular design technology, allowing them to be evenly dispersed in TPU materials, while having high thermal and light stability. Experimental data show that after the TPU sample added with Tinuvin, after 1000 hours of manual accelerated aging test, its yellowing index is only one-tenth of that of the untreated samples.

Case 2: Research on formula optimization at Tsinghua University

The research team at Tsinghua University successfully developed a composite additive by screening and optimizing the proportion of a variety of yellowing agents. This additive can not only effectively prevent TPU from yellowing, but also improve the material's wear resistance and impact strength. Experimental results show that the lifespan of TPU products using this composite additive has been increased by about 30% in actual use.

The role of promoting green production

TPU yellowing agents play an important role in promoting green production. First, by extending the service life of the product, resource waste and environmental pollution are reduced. Secondly, many modern yellowing agents are also environmentally friendly products themselves, free of heavy metals and other harmful substances, and meet strict international environmental standards. Later, using yellowing agents can also reduce the company's maintenance costs because the product does not need to be replaced or repaired frequently during use.

Environmental Certification and Standards

In order to ensure the environmental protection performance of TPU yellowing agents, many countries and regions have formulated corresponding certifications and standards. For example, the EU's REACH regulations require that all chemicals must undergo a rigorous safety assessment before they can be marketed. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched the "Design for the Environment" (DfE) label, identifying products that have less impact on human health and the environment.

Conclusion

To sum up, TPU yellowing agent, as an ideal environmentally friendly additive, can not only effectively solve the yellowing problem of TPU materials, but also help enterprises achieve a more environmentally friendly and efficient production method. With the continuous advancement of technology and changes in market demand, the future development direction of TPU yellowing agent will pay more attention to multifunctionalization and customization to meet the different industries and application scenarios.Specific requirements. We look forward to seeing more innovative solutions emerge to jointly promote the global manufacturing industry toward green and sustainable development.

TPU yellowing agent: an ideal environmentally friendly additive to help green production

TPU yellowing agent: ideal for green production

What is TPU yellowing agent?