BASF has recently developed a new light stabilizer Uvinul® 4050H, that is a first monomeric HALS worldwide to obtain a Food Contact Notification (FCN) for the use in plastics with food contact by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Uvinul® 4050H may be used in polypropylene, polystyrene, styrene copolymers and acrylonitrile copolymers (including ABS) that come into contact with foodstuffs. Applications for Uvinul® 4050H include woven fiber sacks such as bulk bags, flour sacks and corn (maize) sacks, electrical equipment such as kitchen equipment, thermoformed packaging such as yogurt beakers and disposable cutlery.
Uvinul® 4050H is approved for use at a concentration of upto 0.5% in polystyrene, styrene copolymers and acrylonitrile copolymers. It is also approved for use at a concentration of upto 0.25% in polypropylene in contact with all types of foodstuffs except those with an alcohol content of more than 8%. The requirements and definitions for individual plastics in FDA Regulations 21 CFR 177.1640 (polystyrene), 21 CFR 177.1810 (styrene copolymers), 21 CFR 181.32 (acrylonitrile copolymers) and 21 CFR 177.1520 (polypropylene) must be observed when Uvinul 4050 H is employed as a light stabilizer for food-contact applications.

Uvinul® 4050H is a light stabilizer that belongs to the group of low molecular-mass sterically hindered amines (monomeric HALS). It scavenges the free radicals that are formed when plastics are degraded by exposure to light and renders them harmless. This helps to prevent further degradation of the polymer, and it retains its initial visual appearance and mechanical properties much longer. A low-molecular-mass HALS offers the most effective solution for stabilizing plastics such as ABS and polypropylene. Uptil now, compromises have had to be made because of the lack of approval for stabilizers for plastics intended for use in food-contact applications. Following the approval of Uvinul® 4050H, plastics for food-contact applications can now fulfill the highest standards of resistance to weathering.

Uvinul® 4050H is also very effective for use in fibers and injection moulding from plastics such as polypropylene or polyamide. Its high thermal stability allows it to be used with no problems in plastics processing. Uvinul® 4050 H completes BASF's comprehensive range of light stabilizers that are approved for use in food-contact applications. BASF's customers now have the opportunity to use exclusively light stabilizers with food-contact approval in their plants.