The efficacy of photostabilizers on the color change of wood filled plastic composites

In this study, we compared the performance of different hindered amine light stabilizers and ultraviolet absorbers as photostabilizers of wood plastic composites (WPC). We showed how their functional groups and molecular weights influence the photostabilization of WPC subjected to natural weathering for 2000 h. The changes were followed using color measurements and FTIR spectroscopy which provided insight into the photodegradation mechanism of weathered WPC. The results indicate that weathering causes color fading and changes in yellowing. We propose that WPC undergo two competing redox reactions upon UV exposure. The first is the oxidation of lignin which leads to the formation of paraquinone chromophoric structures which is dominant in the first 250 h of exposure. The second is the reduction of the paraquinone structures to hydroquinones which leads to photobleaching. High molecular weight diester HALS were found to be the most effective in controlling long term fading and yellowing changes. Furthermore, the addition of a benzotriazole ultraviolet absorber shows great synergism in controlling fading when added to a diester HALS.