In daily consumption scenarios, people are probably no strangers to the term “fluorescent brighteners”. From snow-white clothes to bright and clean paper products, fluorescent brighteners have been quietly working their magic. Recently, this chemical product has once again become the focus of the industry.
Stepping into a textile printing and dyeing workshop, rolls of raw-colored fabrics instantly take on a dazzling white luster after going through specific processes. The secret lies in the precisely added fluorescent brighteners. As a functional additive, it can absorb invisible ultraviolet light and convert it into visible blue light, which then mixes with the original yellow light of the fabric, creating a whitening and brightening visual effect. In recent years, as the textile industry moves towards high-end and refined production, the quality control of fluorescent brighteners has become even more stringent. Environmentally friendly fluorescent brighteners have begun to emerge. Those types that may have potential environmental risks in the past are gradually being phased out, replaced by new products that are biodegradable and cause minimal water pollution.
The paper-making field is also a major “battleground” for fluorescent brighteners. To meet the public’s high demands for the whiteness and texture of paper products, major paper mills are constantly optimizing the application schemes of fluorescent brighteners. Technicians have revealed that the appropriate dosage of fluorescent brighteners not only improves the appearance of the paper but also enhances the printability of the paper to a certain extent, making the ink adhere more evenly and the colors more vivid.
However, the development of fluorescent brighteners has not been all smooth sailing. In daily chemical products, especially those in close contact with the skin, such as facial cleansers and creams, their safety has long been controversial. For this reason, regulatory authorities have been stepping up efforts, strengthening the intensity of random inspections, and strictly regulating the labeling of daily chemical products containing fluorescent brighteners. Scientific research teams are also delving deep into data, using detailed toxicological studies and skin irritation experiments to vindicate compliant fluorescent brighteners, clarifying the boundaries between safe dosages and harmful levels, so as to put consumers’ minds at ease.
Looking globally, China has already become a major producer and exporter of fluorescent brighteners. Leading domestic enterprises have been continuously increasing their investment in research and development, from the selection of basic chemical raw materials to the refinement of new synthetic processes, constantly breaking foreign technology monopolies, reducing production costs, and enhancing product competitiveness. According to customs data, in the past quarter, China’s exports of fluorescent brighteners increased by more than 15% year-on-year, and the products were sold to many regions such as Europe, the United States, and Southeast Asia. While gaining a firm foothold in the international market, it has also driven the coordinated development of the upstream and downstream industrial chains, injecting new vitality into the chemical industry.
It can be predicted that with the iteration of technology and the upgrading of consumption, fluorescent brighteners will unlock more application possibilities under the premise of strictly adhering to quality and safety baselines, continuously lighting up all aspects of our lives and writing a brand-new chapter for the industry.
Post time: Dec-26-2024
