Illuminating devices are disclosed having plastic light-transmitting article(s) formed from a thermoplastic composition including a polycarbonate having repeating structural carbonate units according to the formula: ##STR00001##
in which at least 60 percent of the total number of R.sup.1 groups contain aromatic moieties and the balance thereof are aliphatic, alicyclic, or aromatic. The composition also includes an epoxy additive having at least two epoxy groups per molecule and a phenolic diphosphite derived from pentaerythritol. The thermoplastic composition exhibits a dE (2000 hrs.) value of less than 1.5 after 2000 hours of heat aging at 130° C., measured according ISO 11664-4:2008(E)/CIE S 014-4/E:2007 using CIE illuminant D65 and a 2.5 mm thick molded plaque of the thermoplastic composition.

Illuminating devices are disclosed having plastic light-transmitting article(s) formed from a thermoplastic composition including a polycarbonate having repeating structural carbonate units according to the formula: ##STR00001##
in which at least 60 percent of the total number of R.sup.1 groups contain aromatic moieties and the balance thereof are aliphatic, alicyclic, or aromatic. The composition also includes an epoxy additive having at least two epoxy groups per molecule and a phenolic diphosphite derived from pentaerythritol. The thermoplastic composition exhibits a dE (2000 hrs.) value of less than 1.5 after 2000 hours of heat aging at 130° C., measured according ISO 11664-4:2008(E)/CIE S 014-4/E:2007 using CIE illuminant D65 and a 2.5 mm thick molded plaque of the thermoplastic composition.

The invention relates to a flame retardant mixture for thermoplastic polymers, comprising as component A) 30% to 55% by weight of a zinc salt of a di-alkylphosphinic acid of the formula (I) in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different and are C.sub.1-C.sub.18-alkyl linear, branched or cyclic, C.sub.6-C.sub.18-aryl, C.sub.7-C.sub.18-arylalkyl and/or C.sub.7-C.sub.18-alkylaryl, and M is zinc and m=1 to 2, as component B) 45% to 70% by weight of one or more reaction products of melamine with polyphosphoric acids and/or condensed melamine with polyphosphoric acids, as component C) 0% to 10% of at least one further inorganic flame retardant which is zinc borate, zinc stannate, zinc phosphate, zinc pyrophosphate, magnesium borate and/or calcium stannate, as component D) 0% to 20% by weight of one or more condensation products of melamine, as component E) 0% to 2% by weight of at least one phosphite or phosphinite or mixtures thereof and as component F) 0% to 2% by weight of at least one ester and/or salt of long chain aliphatic carboxylic acids (fatty acids) typically having chain lengths of C.sub.14 to C.sub.40, where the sum total of the components is always 100% by weight.

##STR00001##

Polymer compositions for making a stabilized polymeric articles that are resistant to discoloration upon exposure to UV-C light having: (i) an organic polymeric material; and (ii) a hindered phenol, organic phosphite, or a combination thereof, with the provisos that: (a) the OH group on the aromatic ring of the hindered phenol is flanked by two tertiary hydrocarbyl groups, and (b) the organic phosphite does not have any —OAr group linked directly to the P atom of the phosphite, wherein Ar represents an unsubstituted or substituted aryl group, are provided herein. Reduced discoloration is associated with the use of specific hindered phenols and the organic phosphites compared to other hindered phenols and organic phosphites, even in the absence of other polymer additives including UV absorbers, hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS), metal oxides and/or barium salts. Methods of reducing discoloration of an organic polymeric material upon exposure to UV-C light are also provided, wherein such methods include the step of adding to the organic polymeric material a stabilizing amount of hindered phenol, organic phosphite, or a combination thereof.

Polymer compositions for making a stabilized polymeric articles that are resistant to discoloration upon exposure to UV-C light having: (i) an organic polymeric material; and (ii) a hindered phenol, organic phosphite, or a combination thereof, with the provisos that: (a) the OH group on the aromatic ring of the hindered phenol is flanked by two tertiary hydrocarbyl groups, and (b) the organic phosphite does not have any —OAr group linked directly to the P atom of the phosphite, wherein Ar represents an unsubstituted or substituted aryl group, are provided herein. Reduced discoloration is associated with the use of specific hindered phenols and the organic phosphites compared to other hindered phenols and organic phosphites, even in the absence of other polymer additives including UV absorbers, hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS), metal oxides and/or barium salts. Methods of reducing discoloration of an organic polymeric material upon exposure to UV-C light are also provided, wherein such methods include the step of adding to the organic polymeric material a stabilizing amount of hindered phenol, organic phosphite, or a combination thereof.

Polymer compositions for making stabilized polymeric articles that are resistant to at least one deleterious effect of discoloration, cracking, or crazing upon exposure to UV-C (190-280 nm) light are provided herein, wherein the polymer compositions include: (i) an organic polymeric material; and (ii) a stabilizer composition comprising: an antioxidant selected from the group consisting of hindered phenols, phosphites and phosphonites, and mixtures thereof; and a light stabilizer selected from the group consisting of hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS), UV absorbers (UVA), hindered benzoates, and mixtures thereof, even where barium compounds (such as barium salts) are absent from the stabilizer composition, and with the proviso that the HALS is not bis(2,2,6,6,-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate (TINUVIN™ 770) alone. At least one of reduced discoloration, cracking, or crazing upon exposure to UV-C light is associated with the use of the light stabilizer in combination with the antioxidant compared to the antioxidant in the absence of the light stabilizer. Methods of stabilizing organic polymeric materials against the deleterious effects of UV-C light by adding to the organic polymeric materials the antioxidant and the light stabilizer, are also provided.

Polymer compositions for making stabilized polymeric articles that are resistant to at least one deleterious effect of discoloration, cracking, or crazing upon exposure to UV-C (190-280 nm) light are provided herein, wherein the polymer compositions include: (i) an organic polymeric material; and (ii) a stabilizer composition comprising: an antioxidant selected from the group consisting of hindered phenols, phosphites and phosphonites, and mixtures thereof; and a light stabilizer selected from the group consisting of hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS), UV absorbers (UVA), hindered benzoates, and mixtures thereof, even where barium compounds (such as barium salts) are absent from the stabilizer composition, and with the proviso that the HALS is not bis(2,2,6,6,-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate (TINUVIN™ 770) alone. At least one of reduced discoloration, cracking, or crazing upon exposure to UV-C light is associated with the use of the light stabilizer in combination with the antioxidant compared to the antioxidant in the absence of the light stabilizer. Methods of stabilizing organic polymeric materials against the deleterious effects of UV-C light by adding to the organic polymeric materials the antioxidant and the light stabilizer, are also provided.

A composition includes first, second, and third components. The composition preferably includes 0.1 to 50 parts by mass of the third component with respect to 100 parts by mass in total of the first and second components. The first component is at least one type of melamine salt selected from the group consisting of melamine orthophosphate, melamine pyrophosphate, and melamine polyphosphate. The second component is at least one type of piperazine salt selected from the group consisting of piperazine orthophosphate, piperazine pyrophosphate, and piperazine polyphosphate. The third component is cyanuric acid or zinc cyanurate.

A composition includes first, second, and third components. The composition preferably includes 0.1 to 50 parts by mass of the third component with respect to 100 parts by mass in total of the first and second components. The first component is at least one type of melamine salt selected from the group consisting of melamine orthophosphate, melamine pyrophosphate, and melamine polyphosphate. The second component is at least one type of piperazine salt selected from the group consisting of piperazine orthophosphate, piperazine pyrophosphate, and piperazine polyphosphate. The third component is cyanuric acid or zinc cyanurate.

Polyolefin compositions comprising i) a polyolefin, ii) one or more phosphorus-containing benzofuranone compounds and iii) one or more hindered phenolic antioxidants are provided excellent protection against discoloration and enhanced thermal stability during melt processing as exhibited by improved retention of molecular weight and maintenance of polymer molecular architecture.