Avient provides light protection for rPET with improved recyclability

Avient Corporation announced the launch of ColorMatrix™ Ultimate™ UV390R, a new ultraviolet (UV) light-absorbing additive technology for both virgin and recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) resin.

Beverages and personal care products can be affected by UV light, causing degradation of sensitive ingredients such as vitamins, micronutrients, and product emulsifiers, leading to reduced product quality and shelf life. Plastic packaging for these applications often requires an effective UV barrier, ideally allowing less than 10% UV light transmission up to 395 nm, or the edge of the visible spectrum, to protect its contents and increase shelf life.

Part of the Ultimate portfolio, ColorMatrix Ultimate UV390R is especially useful with high levels of rPET, offering UV protection that allows less than 10% UV light transmission up to 395nm, or the edge of the visible spectrum, to protect contents from degradation.

When using this additive technology with rPET, other benefits include improved bottle mechanical strength for better bottle-blowing performance, reduced bottle blowouts and stoppages, and lightweighting opportunities.

This additive technology also can improve reheat performance and thereby reduce carbon emissions during bottle-blowing. Additionally, by helping to reduce yellowing of rPET upon subsequent heat histories, this additive technology supports improved recyclability.