Advanced Coloring Solutions for Plastics

Present By: Javed Ahmed Business Development Engineer at Binrasheed Group

Contents:

Introduction of Coloring of Plastics

Color Technology

Methods Used to Color Plastics

Requirements for color preparations

Types of color preparations

Valuation of Color Preparations

Introduction of Coloring of Plastics

• In prehistoric time, colored minerals were used for rock and cave paintings.

• At the beginning of the 20th Century the term plastics was originally used for modified natural occurring polymeric substances

• Modern Society and Plastics• Why we need color Products?

Color Technology:

4

Why are we using colours?

Identification Branding Convey a Mood or a Style Choice

Methods Used to Color Plastics:

The processor of plastics has a choice between two different product lines to add color to his products: either he uses mass colored plastic material or he adds the color himself using a color preparation.

Both methods have their technical and economic advantages and disadvantages.

Mass Colored Plastics:

The disadvantages and advantages of mass colored plastics are:Disadvantages:• – Expensive• – Longer terms for delivery• – Rather expensive stock• – Only standard colors available• – Minimum quantity in case of customer matched colors• – Remaining stockAdvantages:• – Optimum in color distribution• – No additional equipment required• – Guaranteed properties

Self coloration:The disadvantages and advantages of self-coloration are:Disadvantages• – Need of additional equipment, for example, metering unit, premixing devices, color check,

and so forth• – A good mixing screw profile• – Intensive training of the workers• – Greater requirements toward quality assurance Advantages• – Short-term delivery of natural colored plastics• – Low stock• – Supply and storage of the natural colored plastic material in container or in bulk• – Only small quantities of leftovers of color preparations• – High degree of flexibility in color matching• – Fast service and supply of new color preparations by the manufacturer of color

preparations• – Easy and fast change of color during production on the processing machine• – Better possibilities to react to price increase

Requirements for color preparations:

• Desired type of color preparation• Type of plastic to be colored• Processing parameters• Colorant concentration• Choice of colorant (type, chemical and thermal stability, light

fastness/weather• Resistance, shrinkage/warpage, migration fastness)• Additives/fillers/stabilizers• Legal requirements• Customer-specific requirements

Types of color preparations:

1) Powdery Color Preparations2) Granulated Color Preparations/Masterbatch3) Liquid Color Preparations

1. Powdery Color Preparations

•The colorants are mixed with the polymer. Some dispersion aids may be added and often a “wetting agent” to help bind the powder onto the surface.

• Advantages : Cheap because the conversion cost is low. Quick to prepare. Very small lot.

10

Disadvantages of Dry Color/Powder:

Inconsistent mixing of granulate and powder, Pigmenting powder sticking to the hopper’s walls Pigmenting powder spots in the parts Humidity of material No color consistency Environmentally problematic Low volume customer colors Limitation of the quantity applicable during the coloring

process High expenditure of cleaning at color change in production

Granulated Color Preparations/Masterbatch:A masterbatch is today the most preferred type of preparation, well documented by the large volume of sales.A masterbatch consists of:• Polymer as carrier• Colorants• Dispersing agent• If necessary, additives such as stabilizers, nucleating agents, antistatic agents,lubricants, and so forth

Masterbatch Advantages and Disadvantages:

Disadvantages :• Not universally applicable• (incompatibility of polymers)• High expenditure of work during• production• Most expensive type of color• PreparationAdvantages:• Dust-free handling• Smallest expenditure of work when• changing colors during production• Very good metering• No problems when high amounts have to be• used for coloring• Optimal utilization of the tinting strength of• the colorants

Advantages of Masterbatch over Powder:

The Aim is the ideal dispersion of pigment/additives in the polymer matrix. The powdery feed material tends to agglomerate.

Optimum Dispersion of pigments/additives Low Stock holding compared to pre-compounded materials Dust free, no health or safety risk Reduction in purging cost Less cost for compounding per kg Use of masterbatch works out cheaper than compounding as Good color consistency within batch A universal carrier means that the masterbatch can be used across generic material types e.g.

LDPE, HDPE, PPHP,PPCP, HIPS, ABS, POM etc.

Types of Masterbatches

Color Masterbatch – for coloring plastic products Additive Masterbatch – for certain chemical & physical properties for end product Filler Masterbatch – for cost reduction

Masterbatch Applications: Masterbatches for Injection Molding Masterbatch for Sheet Extrusion Masterbatches for Blown Film Extrusion Masterbatches for Blown Molding Masterbatches for Multilayer Films Masterbatches for Woven & Non-Woven Fabric Masterbatch for PE films Masterbatches for Furniture Plastic Masterbatches for Thermoforming & Roto-molding Masterbatches for Box Strapping Stationary and many other plastic applications

3. Liquid Color Preparations•Similar to masterbatches, contains a high level of colorants, but the carrier is a liquid.Disadvantages: • High expenditure of cleaning at color• change in production• No high coloring concentrations possible• because of risk of oversmearing effects• Variable viscosities because of different• behavior of colorants and temperature• Risk of sedimentation of (heavy)• Pigments

17

Advantages:

• Dust-free handling• Excellent distribution; each polymer• pellet is wetted by color• Good utilization of the tinting strength of• the colorants• Good metering• Nearly partial-universal in thermoplastic• resins• Favorable costs of production

Valuation of Color Preparations

The market is ruled undoubtedly by masterbatch. The reasons for its dominant role are the various advantages in handling during the process of coloring thermoplastic resins.

These advantages counterbalance the higher costs of a masterbatch in comparison to the other types of color preparations. By volume the liquid and powdery color preparations follow far behind for coloring of thermoplastic resins.

The marketed volumes of these two types are in the range of 10% in comparison to masterbatch.

THANK YOUFeel Free to Contact us at:

Hall No.2 ( Gold Sponsor)

Corporate Office:10-Abbot Road, Lahore-54000-Pakistan UAN : 0092-42-111-100-000Tel : 042-36296901-5FAX : +92-42-36368877E-mail : service@binrasheed.com

Units:Unit 1: 4 km, Raiwind Manga Road, Lahore, PakistanUnit 2: 338-A, Sunder Industrial Estate, Lahore, Pakistan