UV absorbers and stabilizers for polyethylene agricultural mulch film help extend the film's durability even in the presence of high UV radiation and agricultural chemicals.

Mulch films constitute the application covering the largest amount of land worldwide (about 4 million hectares). Mulch films are extensively used to modify soil temperature, limit weed growth, prevent moisture loss, and improve crop yield and precocity. From the point of view of stabilization, mulch films require a relatively short life span and normally have less contact with critical agrochemicals during their service life. However their thickness, normally limited to between 10 and 80 microns, use of pigments (mainly carbon black, titanium dioxide and organic pigments) and the high solar irradiation they undergo mean that they nevertheless require proper light and thermal stabilizers with intermediate chemical resistance.

Degradable mulch films with Ciba® ENVIROCARE®