N-chloro-hindered amines as multifunctional polymer additives

The transformation of hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS) into N-chloro-hindered amines (NCHA) in the presence of diluted sodium hypochlorite bleach at room temperature is discussed. NCHA-containing samples showed powerful, durable, and rechargeable antimicrobial functions against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. They also showed strong photostability and thermal stabilizing effects. The wide availability, low cost and low toxicity of HALS, the ease in NCHA preparation and the unique properties of resultant materials suggest that NCHA have the potentials to be a class of multifunctional additives of polymeric materials.