Modern plastics owe much to the quest for toughness and endurance. Nylon burst onto the scene before World War II and forever changed how industries thought about synthetic fibers. Early on, ultraviolet (UV) light and heat intimidated nylon producers, causing all sorts of degradation: yellowing, embrittlement, loss of strength. During the 1970s and 80s, as applications ranged from outdoor fabrics to under-the-hood car parts, manufacturers searched for durable additives that could shield nylon from its natural enemies. Melagard MC—today’s UV and light stabilizer—emerged from this period of chemical tinkering. Chemists working in large labs leaned into benzotriazole chemistry and hindered amines, paving the way for products like Melagard MC. Anybody following plastics knows how stiff the competition was: dozens of formulations raced to keep pace with the surging needs of a world increasingly hooked on polymers.
Melagard MC steps in as an ultraviolet stabilizer, focused on extending nylon’s lifespan by stopping sunlight and heat from eating away at polymer chains. The product comes as a powdered additive, meant for direct blending with nylon during the processing stage. Its role isn’t flashy, but it’s vital. Without it, outdoor nylon gear would fade and crack far quicker. Manufacturers swear by Melagard MC for everything from automotive parts to electrical enclosures—places where performance under light and heat pressure really counts.
In my own plant experience, Melagard MC usually appears as a fine white powder. It doesn’t clump easily, making it simple to mix with resin pellets. It’s not hygroscopic, so storage doesn’t require fancy dehumidifying systems. The melting point ranges above 220°C, handsomely matching nylon’s own process range. Its solubility sets it apart; in a hot polymer melt, Melagard MC disperses fast and holds steady through cycles. Chemically, it contains groups that intercept excited oxygen atoms and soak up UV rays. This smart chemistry cuts down chain scission and surface crazing. Compared to cheaper, less tailored options, Melagard MC resists exudation and migration—which keeps surface bloom and tackiness at bay over time.
Nobody wants surprises when running a production line. Melagard MC ships with a technical data sheet spelling out its molecular weight, purity (often above 99%), particle size distribution, and handling precautions. Shelf life sits at two years under standard warehouse conditions. For labeling, UN number isn’t required since it’s not classed as hazardous, but clear batch numbers aid traceability. Typical addition rates hover between 0.2 and 1.0% by weight, depending on how much UV resistance a product needs. All packaging must bear clear hazard pictograms and REACH compliance notices for European shipments, reflecting growing regulatory pressure on chemical traceability.
Melagard MC springs from a series of organic synthesis steps, which hover around a core reaction between substituted benzimidazoles (or benzotriazoles) and specific aromatic reagents. Stepwise, these chemicals react in solvent, pass through neutralization, and then filtration. Crudely speaking, the batches yield a precipitate, followed by thorough washing to remove excess acids or unreacted material. The dried product undergoes fine milling, which ensures efficient dispersion in nylon melts. The manufacturers keep some of these details trade secret, but the general outlines remain standard among UV stabilizers.
Melagard MC tackles degradation through two main pathways: light absorption and radical scavenging. The molecules act like sponges, soaking up UV photons and de-exciting them before they hammer the nylon structure. At the same time, Melagard MC willingly grabs at peroxy radicals spawned by oxidative processes, cutting off chain reactions before they balloon out of control. Blending Melagard MC with synergists (like HALS—hindered amine light stabilizers) amplifies its effect. For certain high-performance niches, chemical engineers tweak Melagard MC by attaching side chains, which influences how the molecule latches onto or releases from nylon. These tailoring efforts reflect the ever-present tug between price, performance, and manufacturability.
The world of additives swirls with trade names and synonyms, reflecting corporate jockeying as much as chemistry. Melagard MC often appears in technical catalogs as UV-327, Benzotriazole MC, or CAS number 3864-99-1. In East Asia, you’ll spot it under names like “Solgard MC” or “RayBlock MC.” Major suppliers tag it with proprietary blends—some toss in extra co-stabilizers, others stick with a purer form and market it to high-spec customers. Cross-referencing synonyms and product grades can feel dizzying, especially for those stepping into the field for the first time.
Every resin plant manager knows you don’t mess around with chemical dusts. Melagard MC calls for dust masks, protective gloves, and ventilation—nothing complicated, but always vital. The SDS (safety data sheet) flags mild skin or eye irritation if you’re careless, but chronic exposure hasn’t triggered major red flags in long-term studies. Fire risk stays minimal unless you heap it near open flames, and due to its high-temperature stability, it won’t break down into toxic fumes at the usual nylon process temperatures. Transport and disposal match standard rules for organic powders: keep dry, avoid exposure, and send waste to licensed handlers.
Melagard MC’s fingerprints show up across outdoor applications—lawn chair webbing, automotive grille inserts, and garden netting. In the electronics sector, nylon components sitting near light sources avoid embrittlement and yellowing, thanks in part to MC’s protective shell. Textile spinners like its ability to disappear into fiber blends without hosing down the dyeing process. Pipe makers, cable manufacturers, and appliance molders—anybody dealing with harsh sunlight or indoor fluorescence—leverage Melagard MC to cut down on warranty claims and keep returns low. It slots in easily with other stabilizers and flame retardants when handling safety-critical equipment.
Labs keep pushing on Melagard MC’s limits. Researchers explore compatibility with new nylon copolymers and blends, including bio-based variants that demand gentler process conditions. Academic papers clock incremental improvements in light fastness and surface retention. High-throughput screening tools now test entire batches for purity and activity, catching off-spec production before it leaves the plant. Some collaborative projects target Melagard MC’s interactions with pigments, seeking ways to soak up UV while keeping color vibrancy high—a tough balance. The consensus in R&D circles trusts Melagard MC but seeks greener synthesis paths and lower total additive loadings.
Nobody sidesteps the safety conversation. Toxicologists ran Melagard MC through acute and chronic exposure studies in rodents and in vitro cell lines. Most outcomes land in the “low hazard” range: oral and dermal LD50 values sit high, flagging only at ridiculous exposure levels. There’s little evidence linking it to mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, or fetal risk at occupational doses. Ecotoxicity tests show some mild persistence in soil and water—cause for attention but not documented harm at authorized use levels. Regulatory agencies update guidance as research keeps stacking up; end-users need to check region-specific reports to stay current, especially as standards ratchet tighter each year.
Looking ahead, nylon’s role in electric vehicle components, solar-panel mounts, and outdoor infrastructure only expands. The demand for durable stabilizers grows with it. Melagard MC faces new challenges from recycled nylon streams and stricter environmental requirements. Some chemistry teams target drop-in replacements with improved biodegradability or renewable feedstocks. Others look for smarter blends that dial up protection while shaving grams off additive loads. There’s no standing still; as product cycles accelerate and outdoor exposure ramps up, staying ahead in the stabilizer game takes nerves, persistence, and boots-on-the-ground feedback from processors and consumers alike. Melagard MC may hold its ground, but continuous tweaking and investment seem baked into its future.
Nylon turns up everywhere—from car interiors to garden tools to the fabric in backpacks. People like it for strength and easy processing, but one thing nylon never got right is how it handles sunlight and high heat. Over time, UV rays chew into nylon’s backbone and start breaking it down. Surfaces fade, parts turn brittle, and something that once handled real-life wear and tear suddenly snaps. Anyone who’s seen a sun-bleached nylon zip tie crumble between their fingers knows this story.
Melagard MC goes into the mix to guard against all that. It’s a UV stabilizer meant to step in where nylon’s own structure comes up short. I’ve watched manufacturers juggle lower costs against product reliability, and the sun is not a compromise they want to make twice. Melagard MC fills a specific gap—without enough of it, even the toughest nylon starts to drop its guard in the sun or under hot lamps.
Every time a nylon part sits outside or close to a heat source, the risk grows. UV rays attack polymer chains inside the material, causing cracks and color loss. These changes aren’t just cosmetic. People expect parts to last, keep shape, and hold up under mechanical stress. Melagard MC absorbs and neutralizes harmful rays before they can slice into the polymer. I’ve seen the difference it makes—products come out of testing with their colors still sharp and still able to flex or hold weight without flaking apart.
Factories bank on Melagard MC for outdoor equipment, electrical cable sheaths, automotive panels, and parts exposed to steady sunlight. Think greenhouse fittings, electrical connectors, playground fixtures. Shortcuts in this area show up fast: complaints roll in, warranties get triggered, and everything meant to look fresh starts to age before its time.
Production lines run best with stable ingredients. Melagard MC works in the melt phase, right as nylon pellets turn liquid before shaping. A stabilizer that mixes evenly is key—spotty protection means some patches hang tough while others turn weak fast. The right form of Melagard MC helps keep this protection steady through each batch so buyers get consistent products from batch to batch. I’ve seen the headaches that come from skipping it: random failures, unpredictable lifespans, returns that cost more than the material they’re made of.
Managers sometimes wince at the extra cost of high-grade stabilizers, hoping less sun or shade will make up for it. That gamble rarely pays off. Once damaged, nylon can’t be reversed or “healed.” It needs replacement, leading to more production, more shipping, and more plastics in landfills. Melagard MC only adds a sliver to the cost structure but prevents a cycle of waste and dissatisfied customers. Manufacturers exporting to places hotter and brighter than home countries quickly learn it’s worth budgeting for this type of protection.
There’s still room for improvement as new blends of nylon show up, demanding tweaks to stabilizer packages. Melagard MC keeps evolving for these next-generation polymer recipes. I’ve watched R&D teams ring in changes as new sourcing or regulations pop up, and it’s clear that skipping UV stabilization doesn't solve long-term headaches. Fresh ideas—like pairing Melagard MC with antioxidants or process aids—continue to show promise, giving manufacturers more control over performance and sustainability without a total cost overhaul.
In the end, adding Melagard MC isn’t a luxury for nylon—it’s basic protection. Sun, time, and heat never let up. Skipping this step means paying for it later.
Melagard MC plays a pretty specific role in nylon compounding. As an antioxidant masterbatch, it takes some heat off nylon by slowing down thermal and oxidative breakdown. Anyone who’s ever worked with nylon knows the trouble it brings when heated—it’s strong until it isn’t, with colors going off and the surface turning brittle faster than you’d expect. Tossing in the right amount of Melagard MC usually makes the difference between a batch that lasts and one that quickly falls apart.
When folks ask about dosage, 0.2% to 0.5% by weight keeps popping up. That basically means for every 100 kilograms of nylon, you add 200 to 500 grams of Melagard MC. This isn’t just a guess—manufacturers and folks in the lab have seen that this range gives the antioxidant enough punch without getting in the way of properties like melt flow or clarity.
I remember a buddy running a production line trying to cut corners by dropping to 0.1%. Things looked fine at first, but long-term tests showed cracks and color shifts way faster. It’s a classic lesson—skimping on stabilizers doesn’t pay off if you want your molded parts to last.
Nylon comes in a handful of grades, and not every part of the injection molding world runs at the same temperature. A basic fiber line working at moderate temps could do just fine at the lower end. But crank up the heat, like with glass-filled nylon for auto parts, and the higher end of the range starts making a lot more sense. Without enough antioxidant, the gear teeth or bearing surfaces just won’t keep up after a few months on the road.
Moisture content throws its weight around, too. Nylon’s famous for sucking up water from the air, and that means processing helps a lot if you dry it first. It also means the stabilizer dosage sometimes needs a bump if you’re running reclaimed or regrinded material. Those recycled batches can sneak in some oxidation that Melagard MC needs to fight off, so going closer to 0.5% isn’t just overkill—it's insurance.
Shaving a few grams off antioxidant masterbatch might save a little up front, but that shortcut finds you again in product recalls and cranky customers down the line. Nobody likes returns, especially if a part should last years and fails six months post-installation. Sticking close to the tried-and-tested 0.2–0.5% range rarely disappoints. You don’t get chalky, brittle failures, and your color stays put, even if parts see sunlight day in, day out.
I’ve seen a few projects where engineers tried to substitute or mix antioxidants to shave costs or prep for a new regulatory rule. Unless you really know what you’re doing, chasing a cheaper alternative without decent trials leads to heartache. The basic guideline for Melagard MC works because manufacturers have punished those numbers through testing—thermal aging, UV exposure, washing cycles, and more. Tweaking the dosage outside the recommended range probably means more trouble than it’s worth.
The heart of the matter: stick with 0.2–0.5%, check your specific nylon grade, and keep a close eye on what kind of stresses your part will see. Melagard MC isn’t an ingredient where guesswork pays off.
Melagard MC shows up a lot these days across plastics labs and plants. This stabilizer has carved itself a reputation as a go-to additive for boosting nylon’s resistance to heat and sunlight. People working with car parts, cables, furniture—you name it—seem interested in getting longer life out of their nylon, and this additive delivers decent results. Still, some questions keep popping up, and a big one centers around compatibility. Does Melagard MC work with every kind of nylon, or do certain blends and types bring trouble?
Anyone who’s polled suppliers or chatted with process engineers quickly realizes nylon isn’t one flavor. There’s good old nylon 6, tough nylon 66, plus specialty blends packed with glass fibers or flame retardants. Each of these has its own quirks, and those quirks affect how additives like Melagard MC behave. Someone running a nylon 6 extruder might see smooth mixing and steady protection, but on the nylon 12 line, the same dose might fall short. The backbone chemistry, the moisture-absorbing habits, how easily the material grabs onto stabilizers—all those small points shape the end result.
I remember sitting in on a troubleshooting session at a plant using a high-glass-filled nylon 66. Folks had swapped in Melagard MC after hearing about its UV-busting abilities. Production was stable for a month, but then batches started showing yellow streaks. After some digging, it was clear that the additive clumped in certain spots, rather than dispersing evenly. Nylon 66 with glass filler has a tough time blending in some stabilizers.In another case, someone tried Melagard MC with a flame-retardant nylon 6/6 blend. Sales reps had pitched full compatibility, but the finished parts lost impact strength. Later research tied the drop to reactions between the stabilizer and the flame retardant, not to a faulty batch or poor mixing.
Industry papers and hands-on tests back up the idea that no single stabilizer will tick every box for all nylon grades. One study from a reputable plastics research institute compared the performance of Melagard MC across nylon 6, nylon 66, and a long-chain specialty nylon under accelerated weathering. Results showed improvement in color retention and tensile strength for standard grades, but high-stress blends saw side effects such as loss of toughness or poor surface finish. It’s a reminder that even a star additive needs vetting before broad use.
People looking for rock-solid results usually start by doing small batch trials. Sometimes it’s worth looping in the additive supplier early, sharing the polymer grade, filler level, and process details. In my experience, the best matches come from tweaking the stabilizer dose or mixing method for each formula. A little patience and lab work, rather than just trusting a data sheet, goes a long way.
For those working with odd nylon combinations or pushing their products in harsh conditions, it’s smart to layer different stabilizers rather than lean on one. Running joint tests with final parts—under the real heat and light they’ll face—beats hoping for all-in-one answers.
Melagard MC brings value as a stabilizer, but the plastics world rarely offers a universal fix. Anyone trying to squeeze top performance from nylon needs to keep an eye on the fine print and learn from their own line trials and lab tests. The payoff is a longer-lasting, stronger product rather than a nasty surprise down the road.
Anyone who’s ever left a cheap plastic item out in the sun knows the story: it doesn’t take long before things go brittle, colors fade, and cracks pop up for no clear reason. Nylon may be tough, but when exposed to strong sunlight day after day, it starts to show its weaknesses. Over time, ultraviolet rays from the sun break down the chemical structure of nylon—turning what should have been a strong, reliable material into a source of disappointment.
Melagard MC steps in like a shield for nylon. Instead of letting UV rays chew up every fiber, it absorbs and diffuses that harmful light before it ever gets a chance to do real damage. I’ve seen companies shift from untreated to treated nylon in outdoor furniture and garden tools, and the difference is easy to spot. Fewer returns, fewer complaints, and a lot fewer broken pieces in the trash.
It isn’t just about making stuff last longer. By blocking the things that trigger fading and cracking, Melagard MC helps products keep their shape and color. In the auto world, for example, dashboard parts hold onto their look and strength under the relentless summer sun. In sports equipment and electric cable jackets, performance stays steady instead of dropping off every time temperatures climb.
I’ve noticed that products loaded with Melagard MC handle everyday stress better—not just from sunlight, but also from heat and humidity. Nylon, for all its strengths, starts to break down faster in tough spots without the right stabilizer. Melagard MC helps the material stay flexible and strong, even as seasons change or the weather acts up.
For anyone making goods meant for outdoor use—whether it’s landscaping gear, automotive parts, or playground equipment—this consistency keeps buyers happy and drops warranty headaches. In my time working with materials, products that last longer prove themselves by needing less replacement, less maintenance, and earning better reviews from real people who put them to work every day.
Using Melagard MC isn’t just a bonus for performance—it also means less waste. Items that last a season or two before failing add up to huge piles headed for the landfill. By helping nylon products withstand the long-term punishment of sunlight and weather, fewer broken parts clog up garbage streams. For companies, this cuts down on manufacturing costs and headaches with lost stock. For the community, every year of extra use counts.
From what I’ve seen, manufacturers end up saving raw materials, energy, and money, which feeds into a cleaner production cycle. It takes less energy to keep one product working for years than to make replacements over and over.
Some new ideas catch on because they sound cool on paper. Melagard MC proves its worth where it matters: out in the real world, under harsh sunlight and rough weather. Better stabilization brings confidence, whether it’s for a backyard chair or a car parked on a baking street. The more widely this technology spreads, the longer our nylon products stick around—and the less we have to worry about cracked, faded plastic letting us down.
Folks working with nylon know the material brings a lot to the table: good toughness, decent heat resistance, holds shape under stress, and faces harsh conditions without backing down. Melagard MC, a UV stabilizer, slips into the mix to help nylon stand up to sunlight and outdoor punishment. There’s more to the story, though, than just tossing in an additive and hoping for the best.
People don't always realize how much trouble sunlight causes plastics. Nylon fades and gets chalky in the sun, so UV stabilizers like Melagard MC step in to stretch out its lifespan. But color can shift too. Melagard MC has a yellowish tint, so if you’re after a bright white or a pure blue, that can get tricky. I once worked with a team making nylon gear housings in light gray, and after adding a UV stabilizer, the color warmed up. It took extra pigment to get back to the shade we wanted. There’s give and take here. Even small amounts of stabilizer can skew color, more so in clear or lightly tinted items. People aiming for solid or dark shades won’t notice as much, but designers working on color-matched parts need to pay close attention and probably tweak formulas before the production run.
Nylon shows off solid mechanical beef, which gets tested hard during real-world use: car parts, tool handles, sports gear, the lot. Melagard MC is used sparingly, usually less than 1 percent by weight. That usually keeps the strength, toughness, and stretchiness close to what pure nylon offers. I've seen data from material tests—bending, breaking, stretching—where numbers barely budged after adding Melagard MC, if mixed right.
Trouble hits when someone goes heavy on the stabilizer or doesn't blend it in evenly. Clumps, streaks, or uneven mixing weakens the plastic, makes it brittle, and opens the door to cracks later on. I remember a batch of nylon cable ties with a streaky look and brittle feel because the stabilizer wasn’t mixed in well. Cost us time and some bruised egos.
Making sure the nylon holds up in both looks and muscle means testing out the final mix, not taking things for granted. Some shops use colorimeters to spot tints before they become big problems. Mechanical testing—bending, pulling, hitting—highlights any early failings. Tuning the formula solves problems faster than guessing and hoping.
Pigments in nylon already fight for space with stabilizers, so tweaking both, batch by batch, makes sense. Mold temperature, moisture, even machine wear can affect how everything comes out. Process controls save more headaches than many appreciate. Attention to the details when blending and molding makes a difference: dry the polymer, weigh out the stabilizer, blend thoroughly, and keep machines tight.
Nylon’s value sticks around longest where folks respect its quirks. Melagard MC doesn’t wreck nylon’s basic strengths, but it does lean on color and demands tight production habits. Double-checking blends, adjusting colors, and disciplined testing let the strengths of the stabilizer and the base resin do their jobs without introducing surprise weaknesses. Every lot of parts or components that lands in the field, looks right, and holds up under sun and stress proves why getting the details right pays off.
| Names | |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmiː.lə.ɡɑːrd ˌɛmˈsiː fə ˈnaɪ.lɒn/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 68527-25-3 |
| Beilstein Reference | 9271279 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:53076 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL1200971 |
| ChemSpider | 36895 |
| DrugBank | DB11241 |
| ECHA InfoCard | ECHA InfoCard: 100.239.156 |
| EC Number | EC 215-222-5 |
| Gmelin Reference | Gmelin 37706 |
| KEGG | KEGG:C08602 |
| MeSH | Melagard MC |
| RTECS number | WX2975000 |
| UNII | AB0L6394V9 |
| UN number | UN3077 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C22H60N4O4Si10 |
| Molar mass | Unknown |
| Appearance | Appearance: White to off-white powder |
| Odor | Slight ester odor |
| Density | 1.01 g/cm³ |
| Solubility in water | Insoluble |
| log P | 4.10 |
| Vapor pressure | < 0.01 hPa at 20°C |
| Acidity (pKa) | 8.5 |
| Basicity (pKb) | 8.2 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | -7.8 x 10⁻⁶ |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.53 |
| Viscosity | 700-1200 mPa·s |
| Dipole moment | 2.8 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | Std molar entropy (S⦵298) of Melagard MC for Nylon is 355.0 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | -285.8 kJ/mol |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | –24.6 MJ/kg |
| Pharmacology | |
| ATC code | 840510 |
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling | GHS07, GHS09 |
| Pictograms | GHS07, GHS08 |
| Signal word | Warning |
| Hazard statements | Hazard statements: H302, H315, H319, H335 |
| Precautionary statements | Precautionary statements: Avoid breathing dust/fume/gas/mist/vapors/spray. Wash thoroughly after handling. Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection. |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 1-1-0-Χ |
| Flash point | 200°C |
| Autoignition temperature | 385°C |
| LD50 (median dose) | > 5000 mg/kg (oral, rat) |
| PEL (Permissible) | PEL (Permissible Exposure Limit) of Melagard MC for Nylon: 5 mg/m³ |
| REL (Recommended) | 0.20% |
| IDLH (Immediate danger) | IDLH not established. |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Melagard MC HT Melagard MC UV Melagard MC OB |
