Technical Glossary Yellowing

[Yellowing]

Yellowing is a phenomenon in which a polymer (e.g. vinyl) changes color from transparent to yellow over time. This is thought to be caused by the breakdown or oxidation of the material itself or other additives (e.g. oxidation inhibitors). The resulting shifts in the wavelengths of absorbed light cause the material to take on a yellowish hue. Yellowing accelerates with exposure to heat and UV radiation, but this acceleration differs according to the type of polymer. The speed of yellowing may also vary between products made of the same material.