uv absorbers antioxidants identified in the ethanol extract were phenol benzyl alcohol 4 methylphenol 2 4 dimethylphenol diethylphthalate di n butylphthlate butylbenzenephthalate bis ethylhexyl phthalate and di n octylphthalate gin waste fibers are known to inhibit free radical polymerization reactions such as the polymerization of styrene thus when gin waste fibers are used in the production of plastics more peroxide initiator is added to start and sustain the polymerization process as free radical scavengers the phenols and quinones represent excellent long term effective uv inhibitors these compounds can deactivate the free radicals produced from uv radiation and thereby prevent the free radicals from reacting with and weakening the polymer structure it should be noted that the penetrating depth of the uv wavelengths that pass through the earth 39 s atmosphere is limited most of the uv damage to plastic occurs within a few millimeters of the surface exposed to direct sunlight thus the application of uv absorbers and antioxidants to the external surface of polymeric materials is effective in at least partially protecting those materials from the damaging effects of uv radiation hereinafter referred to as u201c uv protected u201d the cotton gin waste was found to be a great uv stabilizer for at least three reasons 1 the ability to absorb uv radiation 2 the presence of antioxidants and 3 the ability to apply the gin waste onto surfaces that will be exposed to direct sunlight furthermore applying a powdered cotton gin waste to the surface of liquefied polymeric materials imparts a natural wood like texture to the surface of the finished polymeric.