The Weathering Breakthrough for Recycled Nylon: No More Cracking, No More Fading

Everlight Chemical Eversorb® for PCR-PA — One Solution for Weathering Life, Gloss, and Color Stability

Plastic reduction and the circular economy are challenges the global industry can no longer avoid; from discarded fishing nets to retired carpets, post-consumer recycled polyamide (PCR-PA) is now widely used in automotive parts, luggage, office chairs, strollers, and more. But recycled materials share a common weakness: prolonged sun exposure easily causes cracking, whitening, and loss of gloss, directly affecting product lifespan and appearance, and holding brands back from fully embracing sustainable materials.

When recycled nylon is exposed to sunlight over time, UV radiation gradually breaks down the polymer chains, triggering a cascade of visible changes:

Light stabilizers work by preferentially absorbing high-energy UV radiation and releasing it as harmless, low-energy heat — suppressing the degradation reaction before it starts.

Unmodified PCR-PA develops surface cracks in just 72 hours. With the addition of Everlight Chemical's newly developed Eversorb® Light Stabilizer for Post-Consumer Recycled Polyamide — at a dosage of just 0.5 wt% — weathering life extends to 330 hours, a 5× improvement!

* The orange bar indicates the best performance for each metric. Higher is better for crack time and gloss; lower is better for color difference ΔE and lightness |ΔL|. Bar width is scaled proportionally to the maximum value in each row.

The following presents the weathering performance differences between Blank PA and Eversorb® for PCR-PA from three perspectives: appearance, microstructure, and optical data.

① Appearance Whitening Comparison (Visible to the Naked Eye)

Key Finding

The blank group showed localized whitening after 72 hours and was completely whitened by 600 hours. With Eversorb® for PCR-PA, the specimen still retained some of its original color at 600 hours — whitening was clearly suppressed.

Appearance Comparison Photos (0 / 72 / 600 hr)

	0 hr	72 hr	600 hr
Blank PA
Eversorb® for PCR-PA

② Microstructure Comparison / Weathering Life

72	330
Blank PA	Eversorb® for PCR-PA

* Value = time to surface crack onset (hr); higher is better.

Key Finding

Eversorb® for PCR-PA extended crack onset time to 330 hours — 4.6× that of Blank PA, the most significant improvement observed.

Microstructure Comparison (50× Magnification)

	0 hr	72 hr	333 hr
Blank PA
Eversorb® for PCR-PA

⚙ Automotive Parts / Luggage (Prolonged Sun Exposure · Outdoor Use)

Automotive parts and luggage endure prolonged sun and rain exposure. Once the material cracks or fades, it directly affects appearance lifespan and brand image — making this one of the most direct applications for weathering resistance.

✚ Sporting Goods / Strollers (Quality Requirements · High Safety Standards)

Sporting goods and strollers are directly tied to user safety. If the material becomes brittle or cracks due to aging, structural strength may be compromised — making weathering stability a non-negotiable quality requirement.

♻ Ocean-Recycled Material / Functional Apparel (Abrasion & Tear Resistance · Outdoor Performance)

Functional apparel is a significant application area for PCR nylon. Premium outdoor jacket shells demand both abrasion and tear resistance, as well as resistance to fading and yellowing under prolonged outdoor UV exposure — which is why nylon (Nylon 6 or 66) is commonly used. When brands highlight the use of ocean-recycled fishing net nylon, they're emphasizing a dual value: rugged outdoor protection combined with environmental sustainability, and weathering light stabilizers are key to keeping the fabric looking vibrant for the long term.

From crack onset time and gloss retention to color change and visible whitening, Everlight Chemical's Eversorb® for PCR-PA delivers all-around improvement in the weathering performance of PCR-PA. For brands looking to adopt recycled nylon without sacrificing product appearance lifespan, this is a practical solution that balances sustainability with performance — opening up more possibilities for the development of high-performance sustainable polymers.

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