TECHNOLOGY | COLOUR MEASUREMENT
Above: The Nix Spectro L is a pocket-sized colour measure- ment device available from Advanced Color Technologies
A significant development by Datacolor for compounders has been the enhancement in functionality of spectrophotometer technology, designed to quantitatively measure how a material absorbs or reflects different wavelengths of light. It measures the full colour spectrum to produce spectral colour data that is typically not detected by the human eye. Spectrophotometers typically allow for the testing of batches of colourants against a standard to ensure the colourants adhere to product specifications. However, the vulnerability of such technology for colour measurement is the limitation to measur- ing solid colours only, leaving up to 50% of materials unmeasurable, which can include complex materials comprised of different pig- ments, additives and colour compounds. Accord- ing to Lovetro, Datacolor introduced a hyperspec- tral spectrophotometer two to three years ago capable of precisely measuring a wide range of materials accurately, allowing compounders to find correlations between plastic pellets and plaques.
Hyperspectral imaging Hyperspectral imaging has roots in far-ranging industries from biomedical to surveillance, the company said. “Astronomers use it to map galaxies and stars, farmers use it to assess diseased crops, and geologists and geographers use it to measure topography and moisture sources.” For Datacolor, hyperspectral imaging is the backbone of SpectraVision, its most sophisticated instrument in its suite of colour management hardware solutions. It works by taking a snapshot of a sample through each of 31 colour filters, collecting the information as a set of images rather than a single image. The hyperspectral SpectraVi- sion spectrophotometer delivers reflectance point data for each distinct data point, with a reflectance
46 COMPOUNDING WORLD | July 2024
curve of the sample shared with Datacolor’s Tools SV software to analyse, report, and communicate accurate colour results across the supply chain, Lovetro said. The device can measure three-dimen- sional and similar objects to bring colour consist- ency for multi-faceted materials. Datacolor’s latest development is a vertical version of its hyperspectral spectrophotomer, called SpectraVision V, which allows small samples such as granulates, pellets and crystals to be placed in an intuitive sample holder that is easy to operate and can measure plastic pellets and similar small objects in less than five minutes. The vertical configuration eliminates the need for a mounted sample holder that can let light escape and eliminates the risk of materials falling through the aperture plate. It can measure the colour of an individual pellet or several pellets, averaging their colour together. Datacolor’s Tools SV software can calculate the
percentage of a certain colour within the total sample if it is a multi-colour or multi-material product. The software can separate each colour and assign a percentage of coverage to it relative to the overall sample. Calculating the percentage coverage helps compounders and masterbatch makers verify how much of each material is present, which can help control costs, meet specific techni- cal specifications and ensure consistency in the final product, Lovetro said.
Portability Advanced Color Technologies (ACT), a supplier of colour measurement products and colour management services for a variety of industries across the globe, is touting a low-cost spectropho- tometer that improves portability as its latest development. At this year’s NPE show, ACT’s Dan Uress showed the Nix Spectro L, a pocket-sized, portable colour measurement solution that confirms whether colour standards are up to code on a scientific level. The colour management device can be used without training to provide instant and accurate colour data. The Nix L device exists within a durable alumini- um enclosure with a dust and water-resistant shell and features a scratch-resistant lens. Inside the device is a sensor that provides nine channels across the UV and visible spectrum. The sensor is upscaled to report thirty-one datapoints along the reflectance curve. The device is designed to block ambient light and emits its own LED light for measurement. It can measure colour in various modes such as
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IMAGE: M KNIGHTS
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