Optical brighteners, optical brightening agents (OBAs), fluorescent brightening agents (FBAs), or fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs), are chemical compounds that absorb light in the ultraviolet and violet region (usually 300-370 nm) of the electromagnetic spectrum, and re-emit light in the blue region (typically 420-470 nm) through the phenomenon of fluorescence. These additives are often used to enhance the appearance of color of fabric and paper, causing a “whitening” effect; they make intrinsically yellow/orange materials look less so, by compensating the deficit in blue and purple light reflected by the material, with the blue and purple optical emission of the fluorophore.
There are many similar names for optical brighteners, and the most commonly used ones are listed below:
optical brightener / Fluorescent brightener
Fluorescent dye / Whitening additive
Optical brightening agent / Optical brightening compound
Fluorescent whitening agent / Optical bleaching agent
Fluorescent brightening agent / Fluorescent whitener
Brightening agent / Optical whitener / Optical bleach / Whitening agent
Fluorescent brightener / Optical bleach / Optical brightening dye
World-famous manufacturers and their trade names.
Note: Due to mergers and acquisitions between companies, some brands may belong to different companies at different times.
Dystar/Archroma/Bayer: Blankophor, Ultraphor, Hostalux
Ciba/BASF: Uvitex, Tinopal
Eastman: Eastobrite
NSK: Whitex
Clariant: Lecukophor
Hunstman: Uvitex
….
Optical brightener can absorb invisible ultraviolet light (wavelength of about 300-400nm), and remit blue or blue-violet (wavelength of about 400-500nm) visible light, offset the yellowish color on the substrate. This makes the substrate appear whiter, brighter, and more colorful. The whitening is a kind of physical optical whitening, which will not cause physical or chemical damage to the substrate.
The optical brighteners currently used in the industry are all synthetic organic compounds.
To work as a whitening agent, it must have some basic features:
1. The compound itself is nearly colorless or light colored
2. High fluorescence quantum yield
3. Good affinity and no chemical interaction with the substance/ substrate to be acted upon.
4. Good heat resistance and light stability.
FDA: CFR Title 21- Chapter I – Subchapter B – Part 178 – Subpart D
§178.3297. Colorants for polymers. In all polymers at levels not to exceed 0.015 percent by weight of the
polymer. The finished articles are to contact food only under conditions of use A through H described in Table 2 of §176.170(c).
Rohs, SVHC by SGS. OB OB-1 offered by Shandong Grand Chemical complies with the limits as set by Rohs directive (EU) 2015/863 and has passed SVHC screening for authorization by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) on and before June 5. 2020.
REACH registration: 10M-100MT of OB OB-1 to European Countries.
The application is extremely wide. It has been applied to various industrial areas and is closely related to people’s lives. The main purposes are as follows:
Wang to know more about the optical brightener, please do not hesitate to contact us via: sales@obachemical.com or Whatsapp: +86 13173009832
C.I. No.: 71
CAS No.: 16090-02-1
Product Name: Optical Brightener DMS-X
Chemical Name: 4,4′-bis(2-disulfonic acid styryl) biphenyl
C.I. NO.: 71
CAS NO.: 16090-02-1
Molecular Formula: C40H38N12O8S2Na2
Molecular Weight: 924.93
Synonyms: Tinopal DMS, Leucophor PAM (Clariant), Blankophor MBBH, OBA 71, FBA 71,
Application: Widely used in whitening of synthetic detergents liquid/powder, soaps and other homecare cleaning product etc.
C.I. No.: 71
CAS No.: 16090-02-1
C.I. No.: 199:1
CAS No.: 13001-38-2
CAS NO: 12224-41-8
C.I. NO: 185
Click one of our representatives below to chat on WhatsApp or send us an email to catherine@obachemical.com