Discuss the advantages of anti-yellowing agents in shoe materials in reducing production of odors

Date：2025-03-15 Categories：Our Projects

Shoe material anti-yellowing agent: a green solution to reduce production of odors

1. Introduction: From “stinky bomb” to fresh shoe factory

In the shoemaking industry, especially the production of sports shoes and casual shoes, the odor problem has always been a chronic disease that plagues enterprises. Whether it is the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from raw materials or the chemical reaction by-products in the production process, it will cause an unbearable odor to permeate the workshop. This odor not only affects workers’ health and work efficiency, but may also reduce the market competitiveness of the product – after all, no one wants to buy a pair of shoes that can make people cover their noses just after they are unpacked.

In recent years, with the increase in environmental awareness and the increase in consumers’ demand for high-quality products, more and more companies have begun to pay attention to how to reduce odor issues in the production process. In this “deodorizing revolution”, shoe cotton anti-yellowing agent stands out because of its unique function and has become an important tool to solve this problem. It can not only effectively delay the yellowing of shoe materials in light or high temperatures, but also significantly reduce the odor generated during the production process, bringing a cleaner working environment and higher product quality to the shoe factory.

So, what is the anti-yellowing agent for shoe material? How does it implement these functions? How to evaluate its effectiveness? This article will discuss these issues and combine relevant domestic and foreign research literature to deeply analyze their advantages in reducing production of odors.

2. Basic principles and mechanism of anti-yellowing agent for shoe material

(I) What is anti-yellowing agent for shoe material?

Shoe material foam anti-yellowing agent is an additive specially used to prevent yellowing of shoe materials (such as EVA, PU foam, etc.) due to oxidation, ultraviolet rays or other external factors. Its main components are usually a composite formulation of antioxidants, light stabilizers and heat stabilizers, which can protect the physical properties and appearance color of the material by inhibiting radical chain reactions and absorbing ultraviolet energy.

Simply put, the anti-yellowing agent of the shoe material is like a “guardian”, always being alert to the possibility of the shoe material being harmed by the outside world. It will firmly grasp the free radicals that try to destroy the molecular structure and prevent them from triggering chain reactions; at the same time, it will also be like an invisible umbrella, blocking the invasion of ultraviolet rays and ensuring that the shoe material remains as white as new at all times.

(II) How to reduce the production of odors by anti-yellowing agents?

The reason why anti-yellowing agents in shoe materials can reduce production of odors is mainly due to the following mechanisms of action:

Inhibit oxidation reaction
During the production process, some components in the shoe material may undergo oxidation reaction due to high temperature or air contact, producing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as aldehydes and ketones. These substances are one of the main sources of odor. Antioxidant components in anti-yellowing agents can effectively capture free radicals fromSlow down or even completely prevent the occurrence of oxidation reactions, fundamentally reducing the generation of odors.
Reduce decomposition by-products
When the shoe material is exposed to ultraviolet light, some polymer materials will degrade, resulting in low molecular weight compounds, which often have a strong odor. The light stabilizer in the anti-yellowing agent can reduce the generation of decomposed byproducts by absorbing UV light and converting it into harmless heat.
Improving processing stability
When processing shoe materials under high temperature conditions, the material may overheat locally, causing certain components to decompose and release a pungent odor. The heat stabilizer in the anti-yellowing agent can improve the heat resistance of the material, reduce the decomposition phenomenon caused by overheating, and further reduce the generation of odor.

3. Product parameters and performance characteristics of shoe material anti-yellowing agent

In order to better understand the functional characteristics of shoe cotton anti-yellowing agent, we can summarize its key parameters through the following table:

parameter name	Unit	Reference value range	Remarks
Appearance	—	White powder or granules	Easy to mix evenly
Melting point	℃	50-80	Different based on the specific model
Solution	g/L	<0.1	Insoluble in water, but can be dispersed in organic solvents
Add ratio	%	0.1-0.5	Adjust to actual needs
Antioxidation capacity	%	≥90	Test conditions: Accelerated aging experiment
Photostability	hours	>500	The color remains unchanged under continuous irradiation of the UV lamp
Heat resistance temperature	℃	200-250	Supplementary in high temperature processing environment
VOC release	mg/m³	≤5	Complied with EU REACH regulations

From the table above, it can be seen that the anti-yellowing agent of the shoe material has high antioxidant ability and light stability, and can maintain excellent performance in a variety of complex environments. In addition, its extremely low VOC release makes it an ideal choice for meeting modern environmental standards.

IV. Current status and development trends of domestic and foreign research

(I) Progress in foreign research

In foreign countries, the research on anti-yellowing agents for shoe materials started early, especially in Europe and the United States. Due to strict environmental protection regulations and consumers’ high requirements for product quality, the relevant technologies have become relatively mature. For example, DuPont, a company in the United States, has developed a nanotechnology-based anti-yellowing agent. This product not only has the function of a traditional anti-yellowing agent, but also can significantly reduce the friction coefficient on the surface of the material, thereby reducing mechanical wear and the resulting odor during processing.

In addition, BASF, Germany has made breakthrough progress in the field of light stabilizers. They launched a new light stabilizer that can last for more than 1,000 hours under extreme UV light without affecting the color and mechanical properties of the material. This high-performance product has been widely used in the production of high-end sports shoes.

(II) Domestic research trends

In China, although the research and development of anti-yellowing agent for shoe materials started late, it has developed rapidly in recent years. Thanks to the country’s support for the environmental protection industry and the growth of market demand, many local companies have increased their R&D investment. For example, a well-known chemical company launched an anti-yellowing agent designed specifically for Asian climate in 2021. The product has been optimized for material aging in humid and hot environments and has been highly recognized by the market.

It is worth mentioning that a study from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering of Tsinghua University shows that by introducing bio-based raw materials into anti-yellowing agents, the environmental performance of the product can not only be improved, but also further reduce production costs. This research results point out a new direction for the future development of anti-yellowing agents.

5. Application case analysis of shoe material anti-yellowing agent

In order to more intuitively show the actual application effect of shoe cotton anti-yellowing agent, we will analyze it with two specific cases as examples.

(I) Case 1: The transformation practice of a sports shoe brand factory

Background: The factory mainly produces high-end running shoes, but the EVA sole material used is prone to yellowing in the sun and will produce obvious odor during processing, resulting in constant customer complaints.

Measures: Introduce a new anti-yellowing agent for shoe materials, according to the recommended ratioExamples are added to EVA materials.

Result: After half a year of follow-up testing, the following changes were found:

The yellowing index of sole materials has decreased by 75%;
The odor concentration in the production workshop has been reduced by about 60%;
Customer satisfaction has increased significantly, with the return rate falling by 40%.

(II) Case 2: Environmental protection upgrade of a certain export shoe company

Background: The company mainly exports leather shoes to the European market, but due to the increasingly strict local environmental protection regulations, the original production process can no longer meet the requirements.

Measures: Use a shoe material anti-yellowing agent that complies with the EU REACH certification to completely replace the original additives.

Result: Through verification by third-party testing agencies, the VOC emissions of footwear products produced by the company dropped to 1/3 of the original, successfully passed all export inspections, and the order volume increased by 30%.

6. Advantages and limitations of anti-yellowing agent for shoe materials

(I) Main advantages

Efficiency
Shoe cotton anti-yellowing agent can significantly improve the material’s anti-yellowing performance and odor performance in a short period of time, bringing immediate results to the company.
Economic
Compared to replacing the entire production line or redesigning the product structure, the use of anti-yellowing agents is cheaper and easier to operate.
Environmentality
Most modern anti-yellowing agents use green and environmentally friendly formulas, which meet the mainstream international environmental protection standards and help enterprises fulfill their social responsibilities.

(II) Potential limitations

Scope of application is limited
Different types of shoe materials may require different anti-yellowing agent formulations, so in actual applications, you need to choose the appropriate product according to the specific situation.
Long-term effects need to be verified
Although laboratory data show that the anti-yellowing agent has significant effect, its long-term stability still needs to be verified through a lot of practice in actual use.
Cost pressure
For some small businesses, the price of high-quality anti-yellowing agents may be slightly expensive and may increase a certain cost burden in the short term.

7. Future development trends and prospects

With the advancement of technology and changes in market demand, anti-yellowing agent of shoe materials will show the following development trends in the future:

Multifunctional
The new generation of anti-yellowing agents will no longer be limited to a single function, but will integrate anti-yellowing, antibacterial, anti-molding and other functions to meet the needs of more application scenarios.
Intelligent
Combined with IoT technology and big data analysis, future anti-yellowing agents are expected to achieve automatic monitoring and adjustment, helping enterprises grasp the material status in real time and optimize production processes.
Sustainable Development
Bio-based raw materials and biodegradable materials will become the key directions for the research and development of anti-yellowing agents, helping the shoemaking industry to transform into a greener and lower-carbon direction.

8. Conclusion: Let every pair of shoes exude a sense of confidence

The emergence of anti-yellowing agent for shoe materials undoubtedly provides the shoemaking industry with a key to opening a “fresh future”. It not only solves the yellowing and odor problems that have long plagued enterprises, but also brings higher economic benefits and social value to enterprises. As the old saying goes, “Details determine success or failure.” In a fiercely competitive market environment, only by paying attention to every detail can we truly win the favor of consumers.

So, let us look forward to the fact that in the near future, every shoe factory can get rid of the shadow of “stench bombs”, and every pair of shoes can exude a pleasant atmosphere, allowing consumers to feel full of confidence and comfort when wearing them!

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