Process for producing an ultraviolet light stabilized polycarbonate article

Claim 1

A process for the manufacture of an aromatic polycarbonate article having improved resistance to degradation by ultraviolet light which comprises the steps of: I contacting said article with an impregnating solution containing (i) an ester of acrylic acid represented by the formula CH.sub.2 ═ CHCOOR wherein R is an alkyl containing from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms, (ii) a hydroxy ether represented by the general formula HO--R'--O--R.sup.2 wherein R' is selected from the group consisting of --CH 2 CH 2 --, --C 3 H 6 --, and --R 3 O) n wherein R 3 is --C 2 H 2 -- or --C 3 H 6 -- and n is an integer having a value of from 1 to 3, and R 2 is an alkyl containing from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms, and (iii) an ultraviolet light absorbent, said impregnating solution containing amounts of said ester of acrylic acid and hydroxy ether effective to sufficiently modify the surface of said polycarbonate to effectuate impregnation thereof by said ultraviolet light absorbent but insufficient to substantially deleteriously affect said polycarbonate; II keeping said impregnating solution in contact with said article for a period of time sufficient for said ultraviolet light absorbent to impregnate the surface of said article but insufficient to substantially deleteriously affect the surface of said polycarbonate article; and III removing said impregnating solution containing said ester of acrylic acid, hydroxy ether, and any unabsorbed ultraviolet light absorbent from said article.