BASF Melagard MC serves as a specialty chemical raw material found in plastics, paints, and coatings. Its role centers on providing light stability and protecting against ultraviolet (UV) degradation. Melagard MC operates as a UV absorber, making it valuable in all sorts of outdoor applications like automotive trim, furniture, and construction materials exposed to sunlight for extended periods.
Melagard MC comes in several physical states—flakes, powders, granules, and sometimes pearls or crystals. The choice depends on what manufacturers ask for and how they intend to process it. Flakes and powders prove useful for compounding during extrusion, while pearls or granules tend to pour easier and reduce dust. Its appearance doesn’t just make handling more efficient; it’s a nod to the producer’s know-how. Crystal-clear or pale yellow, Melagard MC usually shows up as a solid at room temperature. Some versions with higher purity settle into a dense, almost glassy appearance. In solution, the product dissolves well in common industrial solvents (think toluene, xylene, and certain alcohols)—a trait that speeds up blending in resins and coatings. This solubility makes it flexible for companies formulating different materials.
Let’s talk numbers. BASF Melagard MC carries a density ranging from about 1.2–1.4 grams per cubic centimeter. That sort of density helps it disperse well in both aqueous and oil-based systems. The chemical canon lists this compound under the HS Code 2924299590, which tells customs inspectors it’s an organic chemical. Looking at the molecular level, Melagard MC has a main backbone formed by benzotriazole or similar stabilizing rings—designed for long-term UV absorption. Its molecular formula depends on the precise variant, but most hover around C17H17ClN2O2 for the standard offering.
Working with Melagard MC in a laboratory or production plant always means paying attention to safety. Despite serving as a shield in sun-exposed plastics, it doesn’t go easy on unprotected skin or lungs. The material’s Safety Data Sheet flags it as potentially harmful if inhaled as a fine powder or if handled in open, windy conditions. It’s not classified as a hazardous chemical under GHS when used responsibly, but eye and skin irritation can still be a risk. Protective gloves, goggles, and suitable masks keep operators out of harm's way. Storage calls for cool, dry spaces away from strong oxidizing agents. Spills sweep up best with dry methods—wetting may create unwanted sludge.
Melagard MC isn’t just another additive—it’s a core raw material that holds finished plastic goods together, both literally and figuratively, under the sun. I remember speaking with manufacturers of garden furniture who swore by its inclusion. Their logic: chairs and tables that sit outdoors face long UV exposure, which breaks polymer chains, causing fades and cracks. The introduction of Melagard MC extended product life by years, helping them guarantee color retention and structural strength. Even in construction, roofing sheets, and exterior panels loaded with this stabilizer, you’ll notice slower yellowing and fewer brittle failures.
In international trade, Melagard MC clears customs under the aforementioned HS Code. Exporters pay close attention to country-specific chemical lists. The product must have a Certificate of Analysis detailing the batch’s purity, melting range, and sometimes the refractive index or particle size distribution. With the current push for sustainable chemistry, some end users are seeking UV stabilizers that break down more easily after use, but right now, Melagard MC remains a go-to for long-service-life applications where durability outshines rapid breakdown.
There’s always talk about additives being ‘necessary evils’—the tension between needing stability and managing chemical load in consumer products. Some in the industry have started testing encapsulation technologies, which lock Melagard MC inside microcapsules, making it less likely to leach out during washing or UV wear. Others work on blendable copolymers that carry the UV-stabilizing function directly in the backbone, so there’s less migration risk. Regulatory agencies keep an eye on these developments, but for now, for any outdoor product meant to last, Melagard MC stays on the order sheet.
