From agriculture to construction components, patio furniture, cabling, bins, automotive trims and sports or leisure equipment – plastics are widely used in outdoor environments. But prolonged exposure to sunlight can lead to discolouration, embrittlement, and early product failure, due to the impact of UV radiation.
That’s where UV protection additives come in. Broadway’s UV protection packages are specialised additive blends, engineered to preserve the appearance and mechanical performance of plastics, extending the lifespan of plastic products used outdoors. In this blog, we explain what UV protection additives are, why they matter, and how Broadway can support your business with tailored, high-performance additive solutions.
What is a UV Protection Additive?
UV protection additives are substances incorporated into plastic products during the production process to reduce or prevent the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight. Without them, UV exposure can break down polymer chains in the plastic through photodegradation and oxidative degradation, leading to embrittlement, discolouration, surface chalking, fading, cracking, and eventual product failure.
Broadway’s UV protection packages utilise three key types of UV additive:
- UV Absorbers – These act like sunscreen, absorbing UV rays before they can penetrate the material and cause damage to colour or surface finish.
- UV Stabilisers – These interrupt the degradation process, protecting the polymer structure and helping maintain strength and durability over a long period of time.
- Antioxidants – These slow oxidation reactions triggered by UV exposure, reducing yellowing and surface ageing over time.
Broadway creates customised UV protection packages tailored to the specific polymer type, product, expected lifespan and global region in which it will be used. Using all three functional additives provides a synergistic effect for maximum protection. When specified correctly, these UV protection additive packages enable our customers to produce UV-resistant plastics that can perform in demanding outdoor environments over a long period of time.
The Importance of UV Protection in Plastics
Plastics exposed to sunlight for extended periods will degrade unless they are properly protected. UV damage may not be immediately obvious, but can become a serious issue, risking not just the aesthetics of a product, but also its structural integrity and performance.
Common issues include:
- Colour fading and yellowing
- Surface chalking or whitening
- Cracks, embrittlement, and loss of mechanical strength
- Reduced structural integrity causing product safety concerns
- Shortened product lifespan leading to premature disposal and environmental costs
This is particularly critical for products used in sectors like agriculture, construction, automotive, horticulture, outdoor sport and recreation, and marine, where exposure to the elements is unavoidable and performance must remain consistent. Ignoring these considerations can lead to serious consequences, not just for branding and colour of products, but potential safety concerns as a plastic product’s properties weaken over time due to sunlight exposure.
By incorporating UV additives at the formulation stage, manufacturers can ensure longer-lasting, higher-performing outdoor products with fewer returns, reduced waste, improved customer satisfaction and less risk of safety concerns or product failures over the product’s lifespan.
Why Choose Broadway’s UV Plastic Additives?
At Broadway, we specialise in tailor-made UV protection packages that help plastic moulders manufacture products to meet the specific demands of various industries. Our + performance range includes fully customised UV protection additive packages that combine UV absorbers, UV stabilisers and antioxidants for maximum effect.
Here’s why manufacturers across the UK and Europe choose Broadway:
- Fully customised formulations – UV additive packages tailored to your polymer, manufacturing method, expected product lifespan, and the geographic region where the item will be used. By formulating a masterbatch with the correct additive selection and addition rate for your application, you can be sure of adequate protection without unnecessary costs.
- Flexible supply formats – We can supply UV protection as a stand-alone additive masterbatch, or we can include the UV package within your custom colour and provide a single, multifunctional masterbatch (or compound) for ease of handling and dosing. We’re also able to include UV protection when supplying rotational moulding powders.
- Broad polymer compatibility – Suitable for many polymers, including PE, PP, PET, PETG, ABS, SAN, ASA, PA66, PC, TPE, TPU, PVC, GPPS, HIPS and Acetal (POM).
- Compatible with key processing methods – Including injection moulding, blow moulding, extrusion, ISBM, film/sheet, rotational moulding and 3D printing.
- In-house testing for proven durability – All of our UV packages can be validated using our in-house accelerated weather testing facilities for reliable, cost-effective UV resistance. Accelerated weather testing simulates long-term exposure to sunlight, moisture, and temperature extremes in a controlled environment, allowing us to quickly assess material performance over time. We can also test samples for impact strength, tensile strength, and colour change, providing a comprehensive understanding of how materials will hold up in real-world conditions. We’re happy to compare samples from competitors against our own to help you make informed decisions when it comes to balancing cost and protection levels.
- Short lead times, low MOQs and call-off services – With fast turnarounds, flexible order quantities and call-off agreements, we can support both large-scale and smaller, specialist projects.
Whether you’re developing a new product or looking to improve existing performance, Broadway can provide the right UV additive protection package for your plastics.
In-House Testing for Proven Results
Our recommendations are based on data, not guesswork. With an experienced team of colourists and scientists, supported by extensive in-house testing facilities, we deliver precise insights into the effectiveness of different UV protection packages, tailored to each customer’s specific use case. This allows us to accurately predict future degradation and colour changes.
Our QUV and Xenon Arc accelerated weathering stations are used to test samples in alignment with internationally recognised standards ISO 4892-2 and ISO 4892-3. These tests allow us to measure the degradation of samples exposed to weather conditions over time. Samples can be tested for up to 1,500 hours, which equates to around five years of real-world exposure, with regular readings letting us measure colour deviation over time using spectrophotometers.
This enables informed decisions on pigment choices to maximise colourfastness and demonstrates how different UV additive packages impede polymer degradation. We can test existing materials (from other suppliers) against Broadway’s alternatives, as well as monitor the fading of laser-marked plaques. These results are then cross-analysed against cost and other factors to deliver a solution optimised for both performance and value.
How are Broadway’s UV Additives Supplied?
We can supply our UV protection solutions for plastics within a masterbatch, compound, or rotational moulding powder. UV absorbers, stabilisers and antioxidants are homogeneously blended and evenly distributed throughout the material, providing uniform protection in the final plastic product.
If you’re moulding with masterbatch, you can request a standalone UV additive masterbatch to use in natural (uncoloured) polymer, or to dose alongside your existing colours. Alternatively, we can include the UV protection package within your custom colour, as a combined masterbatch. This avoids the need to dose different materials during production.
If you’re moulding using a plastic compound, then we can supply that too. We’ll combine your UV package with your colour and any other required additives. All constituents are incorporated into your moulding material and supplied as a single formulation, simplifying your production process even further.
We cater for both small and large lot requirements. Our call-off service allows you to consolidate orders and call in your material exactly when you need it. We work closely with our customers to find the best solution for their specific requirements. If you’re unsure about the most suitable option, please get in touch.
Case Study: Integrated Colour, Laser-Marking, and UV Additive Pellet for Plastic Products Used Outdoors
A customer approached Broadway to formulate a single-pellet solution combining colour, laser-marking additive, and UV protection. This was required to simplify production and improve product performance for thin-walled plastic parts used outdoors, moulded in various colours.
Development Timeline
The development and testing phase took almost two years, reflecting the complexity of blending multiple functional additives into one consistent pelletised material.
Technical Expertise and Services Provided
Broadway provided comprehensive UV weathering tests and detailed reports, comparing results from our formulations against competitor samples to confirm durability in harsh outdoor conditions.
Materials Supplied and Scale of Production
1) We supply combined masterbatches that include colour, UV, and laser-marking additives, all fully integrated into a single formulation. This solution has been replicated across 8 colours, which are typically purchased in 250 kg lots.
2) Additionally, we supply a separate UV protection masterbatch in 2.5 tonne lots for parts moulded in PA6, where testing showed dosing additives individually provides better performance.
Usage and Performance
Our supplied materials are used to mould plastic parts deployed in some of the most demanding climates on Earth, such as Brazil and Australia. They endure intense heat and UV exposure. These products have an expected lifespan of up to ten years.
Outcome and Benefits for the Customer
The single-pellet solution simplifies sourcing and improves consistency for TPU mouldings, eliminating the need to manage numerous materials from multiple suppliers. For PA6 mouldings, separate dosing of additives provides optimal performance. Overall, the customer benefits from a trusted, expert supplier delivering effective, reliable masterbatch solutions with easier material handling.
Conclusion
UV radiation is a leading cause of plastic degradation in outdoor applications, but with the right protection, it can be effectively mitigated. UV protection additives for plastics provide a reliable, cost-effective way to extend product lifespan – without any additional processes. They help to maintain visual appeal, and minimise long-term costs resulting from damaged items being replaced.
If you’re moulding plastic components for outdoor use, investing in a tailored UV protection package is a smart choice. Broadway’s expert team is here to support you at every stage – from material selection and development to testing and implementation.
Contact us today to discuss your next project. We’ll help you find a cost-effective, high-performance UV protection solution tailored to your exact requirements.