PIGMENTS | SPECIAL EFFECT
or wood appearance that looks as authentic as possible”, says Marco Meixner, Head of Research and Development at Lifocolor.
Auto marbling A new effect grade from German masterbatch supplier Grafe allows a marbled effect to be achieved in automotive-grade PP compounds containing 20-30% recycled content. “Bumpers, sills, underride guards or wheel arch liners that appear to be made of stone with their marbled look are all the rage, especially for SUVs. There is a lot of demand from German and French OEMs, specifically for exterior parts,” says Danny Ludwig, Head of Product Management, Color & Functional Masterbatches at the company. “We have already implemented effective surfaces and structures in series components such as centre consoles, bumpers, or handle shells for numerous automotive manufacturers. The combi- nation of plastic with flakes, natural-based fibres, or smaller particles creates a look that enhances a surface texture and makes subsequent painting or foiling unnecessary,” Ludwig says. Automotive manufacturers most often use black
or grey colours in PP for exterior parts and PC/ABS for interior parts, but the effect could also be used in other colours for applications such as toys or furniture, he adds. To create the marbled effect, flakes, fibres or other particles are added to the base colour. Grafe continues to identify new materials to use for the effects, including natural fibres and materials that are by-products from other industries.
Italian compounding group Sirmax has intro- duced its Naturally Inspired material range that is also intended to simulate natural effects, such as stone or wood, using pigments, inclusions, or natural fibres. “In the ‘Galaxy’ effect, the aim is to evoke a starry sky by incorporating inclusions of white material into a black background as if they were stars in a night sky,” says Luca Gazzola, Sirmax Innovation Polyolefins Manager. “These effects are achieved through compound- ing by mixing different polymer bases and fillers. [The effects] are independent of the level of finish that is then used in the moulding process, but [the finish] contributes considerably to making the material more tactile and aesthetically realistic,” he says. “For example, [with] the material we have
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