TECHNOLOGY | COLOUR MEASUREMENT
Colibri calculates the recipe based on the
substrate, contrast and thickness, and templates for all major colour matching settings are defined and saved. The variables include: colourant set to be used; general settings for light and limits for dE and metamerism; thickness and target opacity (contrast); offsets and factors for surface correction; binders and colourants used and their minimum and maximum concentrations; pre-fill amounts for bases; pigment load limits; and recipe output format.
Colibri is a modular universal software platform for colour management Image: Konica Minolta Sensing
translucent samples. Opacity can be predicted, meaning that non-hiding layers can be eliminated, while over pigmentation is prevented due to pigment load optimisation. Colibri calculates absolute optical data for all components, including the transparent base, which means calibration samples of the colourants in only one binder. In addition, the company says that Calibri provides good first shot quality and efficient correc- tion, with good matching results for dark and saturated colours and for a wide variety of substrates. The result is characterisation of products and components, including polymers, colourants and additives, as a basis for colour matching. Calibra- tion samples for all the components with an influence on the colour are created. Master components, such as transparent, white or black polymer are determined and around ten samples of these are created. Around six to eight samples of the colourants mixed with the master components are then also formed. Variables include concentra- tion, thickness and background contrast. The ideal thickness of a sample is below 1mm because edge loss happens in translucent samples if the thickness is too high and the pigment amount is low. And the calibration samples have to be measured as exactly as possible to ensure good matching results. The next step is to calculate optical data. Auxiliary polymers with the same colourant set are then defined and calculated with only a small number of white and black adjustments. Working without auxiliary polymers will lead to a first recipe and more corrections, and depending on how often a polymer is used a decision should be taken about one method or the other.
24 COMPOUNDING WORLD | July 2018
‘Expert System’ settings within Colibri support the user in choosing the right colourants for certain applications. This includes: choice of colourants based on properties such as light fastness and weather resistance; individualised configurations; and highlighting recipes and colourants that are not recommended or specifying only those that fulfil the requirements. In addition, recipes for masterbatch production can be displayed in Colibri, based on the concentration of masterbatch to be used in the end product, maximum pigment load in the masterbatch with automatic adjustment of the concentration if necessary, and the carrier polymer used in the masterbatch.
Recycling ideas Colibri can also play a key role in the use of recycled materials for masterbatches and com- pounds. Compared with the use of virgin material, the constantly changing inherent colour of recycled material makes it difficult for colourists. For accu- rate colour adjustment, many time-consuming tests are required. The use of masterbatches for colour- ing compounds is also more difficult, because the masterbatch maker has to take the inherent colour of the recycled material from every single batch into account when creating the colour formulation. By using computer colour matching, compounders can now ensure the colour quality of the end product using recycled material. Using the Colibri formulation software it is possible to consider coloured recycled material in the recipe calculation either as pure polymer or in combination with virgin material. No new colour- ant set – a new calibration series for all pigments – is required. It is only necessary to characterise the recycled material itself in a few mixtures with white and/or black. Colibri calculates a recipe with the recycled
material quickly and predicts whether the require- ments regarding metamerism and price can be met. If recycled materials in different colours are available, it is simple to select the appropriate mate- rial for formulating the desired shade. Components
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