Black knot melanin—a super-additive with UV absorbing and antioxidant properties

A method of reducing UV-radiation and antioxidant damage to a polymer composition comprising:

• A) extracting allomelanin from a black knot (Apiosporina morbosa) fungal growth using an acid-base extraction process, said allomelanin having UV radiation absorption and antioxidant properties;
• B) selecting a one part or two-part polymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 300° C. or less wherein said two part polymer, if present, comprises a polymer resin and a curing agent;
• C) heating a polymer or polymer resin to a temperature above its Tg but less than 310° C.;
• D) adding from about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the extracted allomelanin of step A, and adding the curing agent, if a two-part polymer was used;
• E) blending the mixture of step D until said extracted allomelanin is distributed evenly throughout the polymer mixture;
• and
• F) curing or allowing the polymer mixture containing the allomelanin to harden and/or cure;
• wherein the UV radiation absorption and antioxidant properties of said allomelanin are incorporated into said polymer composition thereby reducing the damage suffered by the polymer composition upon exposure to UV radiation and/or free radicals.