Under sunlight and fluorescence, plastics and other polymer materials undergo automatic oxidation reaction under the action of ultraviolet rays, which leads to degradation of polymers and deterioration of appearance and mechanical properties. After the ultraviolet absorber is added, the high-energy ultraviolet rays can be selectively absorbed and turned into harmless energy to be released or consumed. Due to the different types of polymers, the ultraviolet wavelengths that degrade them are also different. Different ultraviolet absorbers can absorb ultraviolet rays with different wavelengths. When using, the ultraviolet absorbers should be selected according to the types of polymers.

UV absorbers can be divided into the following types according to their chemical structure: salicylates, benzones, benzotriazoles, substituted acrylonitrile, triazine and others.