antimicrobial polymeric compositions having improved resistance to discoloration.

A composition comprising a1) crosslinkable formaldehyde resins and urea a crosslinkable resin melamine formaldehyde a crosslinkable resin melamine formaldehyde phenol a crosslinkable epoxy resin, a crosslinkable polyurethane, a crosslinkable rubber, a crosslinkable acrylic or methacrylic resin or crosslinkable unsaturated polyester resin; or a2) a polymerizable monomer which is a derivative of acrylic or methacrylic acid; or a3) a thermoplastic polyester, a thermoplastic polyacrylate or methacrylate, a thermoplastic polyamide, a thermoplastic polystyrene, a thermoplastic halogen containing polymer, a thermoplastic polyacetal or a thermoplastic polyurethane, or a4) a mixture of components a1) to a3); where it is incorporated; b) an antimicrobial compound selected from the group consisting of 2-phenyl phenol, 2,4,4 '- trichloro-2' '- hydroxydiphenyl ether, 4,4' '- dichloro- 2-hydroxydiphenyl ether, 2,2' '- methylenebis (4-chlorophenol), 4- (2-t-butyl-5-methylphenoxy) -phenol, 3- (4-chlorophenyl (3,4-dichloro-phenyl) -urea, 2,4,6 -triclrofenol, AgCl, AgNO 3, Ag 2 SO 4, Silver Zeolite, Glass, Silver Zirkonate Silver, Silver Apatite, thiabendazole, tebuconazole,-benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamic 1H, 10,10 'acid methyl ester - oxybis-phenoxyarsine, Zinc pyrithione, 2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, n-butyl-1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, 4,5-dichloro-Nn-octyl-isothiazolin-3-one and mixtures thereof, c) a UV absorber selected from the group consisting of hydroxy benzophenones, hydroxyphenyl benzotriazoles, oxalic acid anilides, hydroxyphenyl triazines and mixtures thereof.