Optical Brighteners, also called Fluorescent Whitening Agents (FWAs) are used to improve color, enhance brilliancy or to mask yellowness of plastic articles.

Such applications include kitchen utensils, decorative sheets, photo papers, white boards, and wallpapers among others. The fluorescence effect can also be used as a tracer for adhesives, in process control and security applications

Grade selection and properties FWAs are most effective in natural, white pigmented or light shaded articles. The choice of the right chemistry is important as incompatibility with the substrate can have an adverse effect on the appearance.

Ciba^® TINOPAL^® OB is designed as a multi-purpose optical brightener. It is used in all natural and pigmented polyolefins, styrenics and polycarbonates.

Blank                       0.1% TINOPAL OB

Furthermore TINOPAL® OB is the preferred grade for all types of PVC applications. Due to its high compatibility and effectiveness, it is the preferred grade to be used as a tracer in adhesives or security and process control systems.

Ciba^® TINOPAL^® OB properties on different subtrates

Ciba^® TINOPAL^® OB-ONE is characterized by its low volatility and is especially qualified for high temperature applications such as PET, PC, PA and other engineering polymers. This product can be added directly into the PET or PA synthesis step.

Ciba^® TINOPAL^® OB-ONE properties on different substrates

Methods of incorporation & concentrates

Food contact clearance
TINOPAL^® OB, and TINOPAL^® OB-ONE are approved for food contact applications in various countries.