MATERIALS | PIGMENTS


Right: Grafe is producing black master- batch for PLA and PETG 3D printing filament


enables suppliers of automotive PP compounds to meet stringent durability requirements, and it also can help preserve performance in polyamide compounds containing flame retardants. “Similarly, in HDPE pressure pipe for high-temperature applications, where robust antioxidant stabilisation packages are essential for long-term performance, low-interaction carbon blacks can contribute to improved thermal stability and extended service life. This opens up new possibilities for designing high-performance, durable materials across a wide range of industries,” said Strässler.


Alternative sources Several companies are producing recycled carbon black (rCB) from end-of-life tyres. Earlier this year, Bolder Industries Belgium, an affiliate of US-based Bolder Industries, signed a €32m grant agree- ment with the EU Innovation Fund that will support the construction of Bolder’s new facility in Antwerp, Belgium. The facility will have capacity to process more than 6 million end-of-life tyres annually to produce BolderBlack rCB and BolderOil pyrolysis oil. Installed capacity for BolderBlack at Antwerp will be nearly 18,000 tonnes/yr. Construction is due to begin in 2026. Bolder’s existing operating facility in Maryville,


Missouri, US, is producing rCB commercially, and demand is growing, the company said. The company is constructing a second US facility in Terre Haute, Indiana. The company says Bolder- Black is validated for more than 3,000 commercial products, including thermoplastics, with the goal of reducing carbon footprint. UPM Biochemicals is creating 100% bio-based


fillers from wood that have a black coloring. The company’s biorefinery in Leuna, Germany is expect- ed to start commercial production this year. One of the products from the biorefinery, UPM BioMotion Renewable Functional Filler (RFF), can partially or fully replace traditional functional fillers like carbon black or precipitated silica in materials such as rubber, TPEs and thermoplastics, including for automotive interior parts, the company said. Grafe’s latest is three new standard black colour variants in masterbatches of either PETG or PLA carrier, designed for 3D printing. An additional PLA option is a masterbatch that meets the require- ments for FDA approval for food contact. “We want to give our customers who demand the highest quality the option of selecting a substrate [carrier resin] that matches the print material. This eliminates compromises in terms of layer adhesion, warping or flow properties. We also offer our customers this service for our standard


24 COMPOUNDING WORLD | November 2025


colour range,” said Lars Schulze, Head of Colour Development and Material Sciences at Grafe. “PLA and PETG are the most popular materials in 3D printing and are valued both in industry and by hobby users.”


NIR black For plastics intended to be recycled, a concern is that plastics pigmented with carbon black can’t typically be identified by near infrared (NIR) optical sorting technology in material recycling facilities. So there has been development activity in alterna- tive alternative black pigments that can be sorted. NIR-detectable blacks include those from complex inorganic coloured pigments (CICPs), manganese ferrites and some new bio-based blacks. The latest from Techmer PM is HiTerra NIR


Black, which has been independently verified for sortability, the company reported. The colorant is available for PE, PP, and PET formulations. BioRegion Technology (BRT), based in Oregon,


US, said its TruBlack bio-based pigment is IR reflective, with a 15-25% IR signature that allows plastics containing it to be sorted via NIR. The pigment is organically certified, 100% bio-based carbon made from lignocellulosic biomass from agricultural waste. BRT has recently worked with Entek to coat the pigment micro-powders with a polymer to create a high-density pellet that reduces dust during handling. Compared to powders, these pellets have increased bulk density and better throughput, and they are also easily dispersible. The pellets, made with a patent-pending process, have lower levels of carrier polymer (typically less than 15%) compared to the amounts usually used in a masterbatch. The company says any carrier resin can be used, including HDPE, PP, and PPgMA (poly propylene glycol monomethacrylate).


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IMAGE: GRAFE


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