Stabilized UV transparent acrylic composition
AssigneeArkema France
InventorsShi-Jun Yang, Richard Abel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to a UV stabilized transparent acrylic composition. More specifically the acrylic composition is stabilized with a carboxylic acid compound, which prevents or delays deterioration of the acrylic composition from high intensity UV radiation. The carboxylic acid compound is preferably an alpha hydroxylcarboxylic acid compound. The delay or prevention of deterioration results in the transmission of more UV radiation through the acrylic composition for longer periods of time. The composition is especially useful for tanning and other applications requiring transmission of high levels of UV radiation and resistance to discoloration. It is also useful in optical cable, LCD displays, acrylic storage media, and in HID devices.
Claims20
A stabilized high UV transmission acrylic polymer composition comprising:
- a) 90 to 99.9 percent by weight of an acrylic polymer or copolymer;
- and
- b) 0.1 to 10 percent by weight of one or more carboxylic acid compounds as a UV stabilizer.
A formed article comprising a high UV transmission acrylic polymer composition comprising 90 to 99.9 percent by weight of an acrylic polymer;
- and 0.1 to 10 percent by weight of one or more carboxylic acid compounds as a UV stabilizer.
A stabilized high UV transmission acrylic polymer composition comprising less than 5000 ppm total of adipate, alkyl sulfonic ester, mercaptan, phthalate, succinate, and/or sulfonate compounds, preferably less than 100 ppm, more preferably less than 50 ppm, more most preferably less than 10 ppm, more preferably less than −1 ppm, and most preferably less than 0.01 ppm.
A stabilized high UV transmission acrylic polymer composition having a UV transmission deterioration of less than 50%, preferably less than 25%, more preferably less than 15%, and most preferable less than 10% of its initial UV transmission after 240 hours of Q-UVB exposure when tested in an accelerated decomposition test, said accelerated decomposition test consisting of placing the acrtlic polymer composiiton inside a Q-Panel Accelerated Weathering tester, model QUV/SE, having UVB313EL lamps, with a set point of 0.67 W/M2 at the calibration wavelength (313 nm) and measuring the UV transmission by a UV/Vis spectrometer before and after the Q-UVB lamp exposures, measuring the YI (yellow index) of these samples by a Machbeth Coloreye Colorimeter according to the ASTM E-313 before and after the Q-UVB exposures.
A cell cast or continuous cast stabilized high UV transmission acrylic polymer composition, wherein said composition is free of phthalate, adipate, or alkyl sulfonic ester plasticizers.
A process for producing a cell cast or continuous cast stabilized high UV transmission acrylic polymer comprising the step of using a spacer selected from the group consisting of a non-PVC plastic, a plasticized PVC core coated with a non-PVC barrier layer, a plasticized PVC plasticized with a polymeric plasticizer, and a PVC plasticized with plastcizers that do not negatively effect UV properties.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.