Long term exposure to sunlight leads to the degradation of plastic materials. In particular, the non-visible UV radiation characterized by short wavelengths is responsible for photo-degradation, a process that generally results in breaking down the polymer chains. This frequently results in a deterioration of the physical properties, changes in color or chalking of the part surface. As an example, films lose their flexibility and disintegrate, garden furniture becomes brittle or stadium seats become chalky.

The performance of utility pipelines for gas and water during natural disasters such as earthquakes has always been a matter of great concern. In 2008, two unexpected and serious natural disasters occurred in China. The first was the unprecedented cold weather in January, covering 6 provinces in southern China which are normally warm regions in winter and the second was the earthquake in May in Sichuan, which measured 8.0 on the Richter scale and killed over 80 000 people.

Carbon black is one of the most widely used and most effective ultraviolet (UV) light stabilizers for plastics applications. Several important segments of the plastics industry rely on carbon black for UV stabilization of weather-resistant products, including telecommunications and power cable jacketing, plastic pipes, geosynthetic membranes and agricultural films.