CLARIANT, a world leader in speciality chemicals, took a step-forward in effective crop protection with the launch of innovative stabilisation solutions to improve the durability of greenhouse films.

The service life of greenhouse films is severely impacted by combined aggressive effects from intensive solar radiation exposure and increasing use of agrochemicals, such as sulphur and halogenated chemicals. Light stabilisers based on amino-ether Hals (hindered amine light stabilisers) outperform standard Hals in terms of agrochemical resistance which enables superior UV protection and extends the lifetime of the greenhouse film.

Clariant offers film producers customised amino-ether light stabilisation solutions based on Hostavin Now (nitrogen-oxygen-wax) technology to achieve outstanding UV protection. The tailor-made solutions are available in an easy to handle granular form. Clariant solutions offer improved and safer processability compared to current available light stabilisers.

Clariant’s innovative technology was unveiled at the AMI 2012 Agricultural Films conference in Madrid, Spain, in November. Javier Fernandez, technical marketing manager, Clariant, presented “Innovative Hals technology: a step change in process and greenhouse film stabilisation.”

Ernesto Dongiovanni, head of marketing polymer additives, comments: “This step-change advance in Hals technology reflects Clariant’s on-going commitment to support the agricultural industry in its efforts to increase productivity and find sustainable solutions to the growing global food demand.”