Analysis of the application and effect of anti-yellowing agent on work shoes

1. Introduction: Why do we need to resist yellowing?

If you are a worker who has been wearing work shoes for a long time, you may find a frustrating phenomenon: the originally white or light-colored soles gradually become “yellow-faced women” after a period of use. This phenomenon not only affects the appearance of the shoes, but also may make people doubt the quality of the product. In fact, this phenomenon is called “yellow change” because some components in the sole material undergo chemical reactions under light, high temperature or oxidation, resulting in color changes.

So, how to solve this problem? The answer is – Anti-yellowing agent of soles! It is like an invisible guardian, silently protecting your work shoes and keeping them new. This article will explore in-depth the application and effect of anti-yellowing agents in tool shoes, and at the same time, combining relevant domestic and foreign literature and experimental data to unveil the veil of this magical material for you.

2. Analysis of the causes of yellowing of the sole

To understand the importance of anti-yellowing agents, we first need to understand why the soles of the shoe are yellowed. Here are a few main reasons:

1. Photooxidation reaction caused by light

UV rays in sunlight are a powerful catalyst that can cause unsaturated bonds in sole materials to break and recombine to form yellow compounds. It’s like exposing a piece of white paper to the sun for a long time and eventually turning into yellowed old book pages.

2. Thermal aging caused by high temperature

In industrial environments, high temperature environments (such as kitchens, factory workshops) will make the molecular structure in sole materials more unstable, thereby accelerating the yellowing process. Imagine that a fresh bread will turn from white to burn yellow if it is left in the oven for too long.

3. Effects of oxidation

Oxygen in the air is everywhere, and some additives (such as promoters or vulcanizers) in the sole material are prone to react with oxygen to form colored substances. It’s like the cut apples exposed to the air and the surface will quickly turn brown.

4. Limitations of the material itself

Some common sole materials (such as TPU, EVA or rubber) have a certain tendency to change yellowing. For example, EVA foam is prone to yellowing due to changes in internal chemical bonds during long-term use.

From the above analysis, it can be seen that yellowing is a complex chemical process involving the joint action of multiple factors. Therefore, to effectively inhibit yellowing, a special solution is needed – this is where anti-yellowing agents come in.

3. Basic principles of anti-yellowing agent for soles

Anti-yellowing agent is a functional additive, mainly used to prevent or slow down solesThe material yellows under light, high temperature or oxidation conditions. Its basic principles can be summarized as follows:

1. Absorb UV rays

The UV absorber in the anti-yellowing agent can block the damage of ultraviolet rays to the sole material like a parasol, thereby reducing the occurrence of photooxidation reactions.

2. Scavenge free radicals

Free radicals are one of the important causes of yellowing, and the antioxidant components in anti-yellowing agents can prevent them from further destroying the material structure by capturing these radicals.

3. Stabilize molecular structure

Anti-yellowing agents can also stabilize their molecular structure and reduce their sensitivity to oxygen by chemical reaction with additives in sole materials.

Simply put, anti-yellowing agent is like a “cleaner”, cleaning up the “garbage” that may cause yellowing at any time; it is also like a “security guard”, always protecting the sole materials from outside.

IV. Main types of anti-yellowing agents for soles

Depending on the function and mechanism of action, anti-yellowing agents in the sole can be divided into the following categories:

Category	Main Ingredients	Mechanism of action	Scope of application
Ultraviolet absorber	Benzotriazoles, benzophenones	Absorb UV energy to prevent photooxidation reaction	Light-colored soles, outdoor work shoes
Antioxidants	Stealed phenols and amines	Catch free radicals and inhibit oxidation reaction	Work shoes for use in high temperature environments
Light Stabilizer	Trumped amines	Dispersing light energy to reduce light degradation	Plastic soles
Compound anti-yellowing agent	Combination of multiple ingredients	Comprehensive multiple mechanisms of action to provide comprehensive protection	High performance requirements for tool shoes

1. UV absorber

This type of anti-yellowing agent mainly targets yellowing problems caused by light. They can effectively absorb UV energy and convert it into harmless heat to release it, thereby avoiding the occurrence of photooxidation reaction.

2. Antioxidants

The function of antioxidants is to remove free radicals and prevent them from causing damage to the sole material. They are especially suitable for tool shoes that need to be used in high temperature environments, as high temperatures can aggravate the rate of oxidation reactions.

3. Photo stabilizer

Light stabilizers reduce light degradation by dispersing light energy and are suitable for use in soles made of plastic materials, especially in the case of long-term exposure to sunlight.

4. Complex anti-yellowing agent

Composite anti-yellowing agent combines the above ingredients to provide more comprehensive protection. They are often used in tool shoes with high performance requirements to ensure that the shoes maintain a good appearance and performance in a variety of complex environments.

5. Application case analysis of anti-yellowing agent for soles

In order to better illustrate the actual effect of the anti-yellowing agent, we selected several typical application cases for analysis.

Case 1: Anti-yellowing test of a well-known brand of work shoes

Background: An internationally renowned work shoe brand hopes to improve the yellowing resistance of its products in high temperature environments.
Method: A composite anti-yellowing agent was added to the sole formula, and a 6-month outdoor exposure test was conducted.
Result: Soles without anti-yellowing agents showed obvious yellow spots after the test, while soles with anti-yellowing agents maintained almost the original color.

Test conditions	No anti-yellowing agent was added	Add anti-yellowing agent
Initial Color	White	White
Color changes after 6 months of exposure	Obvious yellowing	Almost no change

Case 2: Research on the anti-yellowing change of EVA soles in a domestic factory

Background: EVA soles produced by a certain factory are prone to yellowing during use, affecting product quality.
Method: By adjusting the formula, add an appropriate amount of UV absorber and antioxidant.
Result: Under the same conditions of use, the degree of yellowing of the improved sole has been reduced by more than 70%.

Test indicators	Before improvement	After improvement
Yellow Index (YI)	15.8	4.6
Extended service life ratio	–	50%

6. The enhancement effect of anti-yellowing agent on the performance of work shoes

In addition to improving the appearance, anti-yellowing agents can also improve the overall performance of tool shoes in many aspects.

1. Improve durability

By inhibiting yellowing, anti-yellowing agents actually extend the service life of the sole material. This means that the shoes can stay in good condition for longer periods of time, reducing the frequency of replacement.

2. Improve comfort

Some anti-yellowing agents also have certain flexibility and elastic enhancement effects, which can make the sole more fit the feet and provide a better comfortable experience.

3. Enhance security

For workers who need to work in high temperature or strong light environments, anti-yellowing agents can not only protect shoes, but also indirectly improve the safety of the working environment.

4. Enhance brand image

A work shoe that always remains as white as new will undoubtedly leave a deep impression on consumers, thereby enhancing the brand’s reputation and market competitiveness.

7. Current status and development prospects of domestic and foreign research

In recent years, with the continuous improvement of people’s performance requirements for work shoes, the research on anti-yellowing agents has also made significant progress. The following are some research results in domestic and foreign literature:

1. Domestic research

The journal “Chinese Leather” once published an article that detailed the impact of different types of anti-yellowing agents on EVA soles. Studies have shown that the compound anti-yellowing agent has better effect than single-component products.
Another study completed by the Department of Materials Science and Engineering of Tsinghua University pointed out that by optimizing the formulation, the amount of anti-yellowing agent can be reduced by 30%, while still achieving the same protective effect.

2. International Studies

A report from the American Rubber and Plastics Association (SPE) shows that the new generation of nanoscaleAnti-yellowing agents are under development and are expected to be put into commercial applications in the next few years.
Bayer, Germany, has launched a new hindered amine light stabilizer that can effectively protect sole materials under extreme conditions.

Development prospect

With the continuous emergence of new materials and new technologies, the function of anti-yellowing agents will become more and more powerful. In the future, we can expect more intelligent and environmentally friendly anti-yellowing agents to come out, bringing revolutionary changes to the workwear and shoe industry.

8. Summary and Outlook

As one of the important technological innovations in the field of work shoes, the anti-yellowing agent has shown great potential in practical applications. It brings a significant improvement to tool shoes, both from the appearance and performance perspective. However, we should also realize that the research and development of anti-yellowing agents still faces many challenges, such as how to reduce costs, how to achieve a more environmentally friendly production process, etc.

Looking forward, with the advancement of science and technology and the growth of market demand, anti-yellowing agents will definitely play a more important role in the work shoe industry. Let us wait and see and welcome this new era full of possibilities!

I hope this article can meet your needs! If you have any modifications or supplements, please feel free to let us know.

Tag: Application and effect analysis of anti-yellowing agent on work shoes to enhance the performance of working shoes

Application and effect analysis of anti-yellowing agent on work shoes to enhance the performance of working shoes