POLYOLEFIN COMPOSITION PROVIDING MARKING BY FLUORESCENCE
The present invention is directed to a polyolefin composition comprising carbon black which shows fluorescence when irradiated with UV light. The polyolefin composition of the present invention comprises a polyolefin, carbon black in an amount of 0.25 to 1.0 wt %, an optical brightener in an amount of 0.001 to 0.1 wt %, and a UV agent. The present invention is further directed to a molded article comprising the polyolefin composition of the present invention. The present invention is further directed to a wire or cable comprising an outer layer comprising the polyolefin composition of the present invention. Finally, the present invention is directed to a method for detection of a polyolefin composition by UV light and to a method for detection of a molded article or a wire or cable by UV light.
1 . A polyolefin composition comprising
(A) a polyolefin,
(B) carbon black in an amount of 0.25 to 1.0 wt % based on the weight of the polyolefin composition,
(C) an optical brightener in an amount of 0.001 to 0.1 wt % based on the weight of the polyolefin composition, and
(D) a UV agent.
2 . The polyolefin composition according to claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin is selected from the group consisting of an ethylene homopolymer, an ethylene copolymer, a propylene homopolymer, a propylene copolymer, a blend of an ethylene homopolymer and an ethylene copolymer, and a blend of a propylene homopolymer and a propylene copolymer.
3 . The polyolefin composition according to claim 1 , wherein the ethylene copolymer is a copolymer of ethylene and a C 3 -C 12 -alpha-olefin.
4 . The polyolefin composition according to claim 1 , wherein the propylene copolymer is a copolymer of propylene and ethylene and/or a C 4 -C 12 -alpha-olefin.
5 . The polyolefin composition according to claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin is high density polyethylene (HDPE).
6 . The polyolefin composition according to claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin is polypropylene.
7 . The polyolefin composition according to claim 1 , wherein the amount of carbon black is 0.25-0.75 wt %, preferably 0.25-0.5 wt %, based on the weight of the polyolefin composition.
8 . The polyolefin composition according to claim 1 , wherein the amount of the optical brightener is 0.001 to 0.05 wt %, preferably 0.003 to 0.03 wt %, based on the weight of the polyolefin composition.
9 . The polyolefin composition according to claim 1 , wherein the optical brightener is 2,5-thiophenediylbis(5-tert-butyl-1,3-benzoxazole).
10 . The polyolefin composition according to claim 1 , wherein the amount of the UV agent is 0.1 to 1.0 wt % based on the weight of the polyolefin composition.
11 . A molded article comprising, preferably consisting of, a polyolefin composition according to claim 1 .
12 . The molded article according to claim 11 , wherein the article is an outer layer of a cable.
13 . A cable comprising an outer layer comprising, preferably consisting of, the polyolefin composition according to claim 1 .
14 . A method for detection of a polyolefin composition by UV light comprising the following steps
providing a polyolefin composition according to claim 1 ,
irradiating the polyolefin composition with UV light,
detecting fluorescence emitted from the polyolefin composition.
15 . A method for detection of a molded article or a cable by UV light comprising the following steps
providing a molded article or a cable according to claim 11 ,
irradiating the molded article or the cable with UV light,
detecting fluorescence emitted from the molded article or the cable.
16 . A method for detection of a molded article or a cable by UV light comprising the following steps
providing a molded article or a cable according to claim 13 ,
irradiating the molded article or the cable with UV light,
detecting fluorescence emitted from the molded article or the cable.