Protecting agricultural plastics against photo- and thermal degradation

Agricultural plastics (films, tapes and non-wovens) are widely used to improve crop cultivation and to protect agricultural products before and/or after harvesting. Like all polymer articles, these plastics are subject to photo- and thermal-oxidation characterized by a steady decline in their physical and optical properties.

Thermal and photo-degradation of agricultural plastics is affected by many different parameters, linked to the material and final article design as well as to the various environmental conditions. Among these factors, the type and the concentration of stabilizer used play an important role. In fact, without the use of stabilizers, plastic materials like polyethylene would only last up to a few months on the field.

HALS additives are extensively used to extend the life-time of agricultural plastics up to several seasons because of these additives' extremely high efficiency in retarding photo- and thermal-degradation even in the presence of agricultural chemicals.