Additive for incorporating ultraviolet radiation protection into a polymer

Abstract

An additive for incorporating ultraviolet radiation protection into a synthetic polymer with the additive and the synthetic polymer for forming a synthetic material is disclosed which has a quantity of zinc oxide particles modified with a layer of a reactive group that forms a bond with a synthetic polymer having C-H bonds.

1 . An additive for incorporating ultraviolet radiation protection into a quantity of synthetic polymer chips prior to the quantity of synthetic polymer chips being formed into a fiber for forming a synthetic material comprising:
 a quantity of synthetic polymer chips;   a quantity of zinc oxide particles with each particle having a surface; and   a quantity of a reactive group for modifying each surface of each zinc oxide particle, the quantity of the reactive group for incorporating the quantity of zinc oxide particles into the quantity of synthetic polymer chips prior to the quantity of synthetic polymer chips being formed into a fiber.   
     
     
         2 . The additive of  claim 1  wherein the reactive group is benzophenone. 
     
     
         3 . The additive of  claim 1  wherein the reactive group is sulfonylazides. 
     
     
         4 . The additive of  claim 1  wherein the reactive group is aryl azides. 
     
     
         5 . The additive of  claim 1  wherein the reactive group is diazonium salts. 
     
     
         6 . The additive of  claim 1  wherein the zinc oxide particles are coated with aluminum. 
     
     
         7 . The additive of  claim 1  wherein the zinc oxide particles are coated with titanium. 
     
     
         8 . An additive for incorporating ultraviolet radiation protection into a synthetic polymer with the additive and the synthetic polymer for forming a synthetic material comprising:
 a quantity of zinc oxide particles; and   a quantity of a phosphoether of 4-hydroxybenzophenone.   
     
     
         9 . The additive of  claim 8  wherein the zinc oxide particles are coated with aluminum. 
     
     
         10 . The additive of  claim 8  wherein the zinc oxide particles are coated with titanium. 
     
     
         11 . The additive of  claim 8  wherein the zinc oxide particles are coated with silicon oxides. 
     
     
         12 . The additive of  claim 8  wherein the synthetic polymer is polyester. 
     
     
         13 . The additive of  claim 8  wherein the synthetic polymer is nylon. 
     
     
         14 . A method for preparing an additive for incorporating ultraviolet radiation protection into a synthetic polymer with the additive and the synthetic polymer for forming a synthetic material comprising the steps of:
 suspending a quantity of zinc oxide particles in a solution of 98% ethyl alcohol;   suspending a quantity of benzophenone silane linker in the solution of zinc oxide particles and 98% ethyl alcohol;   adjusting the pH of the solution of zinc oxide particles, 98% ethyl alcohol, and benzophenone silane linker to 12;   placing the pH adjusted solution of zinc oxide particles, 98% ethyl alcohol, and benzophenone silane linker into a centrifuge;   recovering the zinc oxide particles prepared by centrifugation after a period of time; and   drying the recovered prepared zinc oxide particles for a period of time.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the quantity of zinc oxide particles is five grams. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the quantity of benzophenone silane linker is two grams. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the period time that the zinc oxide particles prepared by centriguattion are recovered is twelve hours. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the time that the recovered prepared zinc oxide particles are dried is eight hours. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the recovered prepared zinc oxide particles are dried in an oven. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the recovered prepared zinc oxide particles are dried in an oven set at 50-60° C.