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Clariant adds new effects to its ColorForward 2016 predictions
Clariant has teamed up with two technology companies to use laser marking and hologram technology on moulded plastic chips in the 2016 edition of its ColorFor- ward trend analysis and colour-design tool.
One partner is Morphotonix, a spin-out from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland, which has developed micro- technology to etch mould surfaces. This creates diffractive and nano-patterns that are then transferred to moulded articles, appearing as holographic and invisible security features. One of the ColorForward
2016 colour chips is made in a brilliant black colour and features a moulded-in Morphotonix hologram. “The hologram gives a shiny, kitschy vibe to the colour. It reminds me of a poker chip and this is all definitely in line with the
Clariant worked with Morphotonix to add a hologram to a colour chip (left) and collaborated with Trumpf on a laser-marked chip (right), both for inclusion in its ColorForward 2016 collection
bling-bling of ‘Oh My Go(l)d’,” said Joanna Marguier, a colour scientist at Clariant Color- Works. ‘Oh My Go(l)d’ was one of four key trend themes selected this year, celebrating the fact that “outlandish, gaudy baubles and outrageous behaviour are ‘in’”. Clariant also worked with the Singapore arm of indus- trial laser maker Trumpf to demonstrate the potential of laser-marking on a chip representing one of the
colours in the ‘Love’ trend theme. Lasers were used to create a complex circuit- board-like pattern on a white chip called ‘My New Soulmate’. The chip was moulded with Clariant’s CESA-laser additive masterbatch, which enhances the markability of the polymer. “The surface of a plastic
part can be made to change colour when subjected to laser light or thin outer layers of multi-layer parts can be removed to reveal the layer
underneath or to allow light transmission,” noted Norzihan Aziz, head of ColorWorks and Colour Communication Asia-Pacific, who coordinated Trumpf’s efforts. “Lasers can be used to melt microscopic areas of plastic parts to create tiny gas bubbles that diffuse light so those areas appear distinctly different from unaffected areas.” ❙
www.colorworks.clariant.com ❙
www.morphotonix.com ❙
www.trumpf.com
AF-Color receives OK Compost approval
AF Color has OK Compost approval for its AF-Eco masterbatches for biodegradable plastics
AF-Color, a branch of Germa- ny’s Akro-Plastic, has success- fully completed Vinçotte certification of its AF-Eco masterbatch range, earning ‘OK Compost’ approval. The colour masterbatches are designed to add colour to biodegradable plastics without impacting their compostability. Tests showed that the
carrier matrix used by AF-Color fully degrades within 12 weeks and it meets the relevant DIN
14 COMPOUNDING WORLD | June 2015
EN 13432 limits for heavy metals in packaging and for organic pigments in biodegrad- able applications. “We can now manoeuvre
freely within the certified pigment pool to realise any number of different Vinçotte- certified colour adjustments in a range of colours and blacks”, said Dirk Schöning, sales and distribution manager at AF-Colour. ❙
www.af-color.com
www.compoundingworld.com
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