To prevent clothing from yellowing during transport and storage, BASF has developed a new optical brightener Ultraphor AUX-NY.
Since many manufacturers produce garments in countries far from the markets where they are sold, shirts and T-shirts often have to cover thousands of kilometres before they end up on department store shelves. The long period of transport and storage packed in film can cause areas of yellowish discoloration on light-colored clothing. Known as storage yellowing, such areas occur especially at points where the film and fabric are in permanent contact. Colourless BHT – an additive in the packaging material – migrates onto the garment and reacts with nitrogen oxides from vehicle exhausts, producing a yellow nitro dye. The phenomenon is promoted by moisture and high temperatures.

BASF’s Ultraphor AUX-NY prevents nitrogen oxides from combining with the BHT molecule, so that yellowing cannot occur and the textile retains its light shade.

Ultraphor AUX-NY can be applied to all textiles, both white and pastel-colored. It is silicone-free and does not stain. Since the auxiliary does not foam in the production process, no additional silicone antifoams are needed.

Furthermore, textiles treated with Ultraphor AUX NY meet the requirements of Oeko-Tex Standard 100 (Product Class I) and are completely safe to use on baby and children’s clothing.