ADDITIVES | PIGMENTS
Right: ReptyleFx masterbatches from Ampacet are intended to create a
multi-sensory surface effect
extrusion-coated films that provide the feel and fold of paper. These are increasingly being used as an alternative to wax-coated paper in applications such as butcher and floral wrap, tissue and butter packag- ing. Paper 2.0 Synthetic Paper gives paper-like properties in multilayer or monolayer constructions. It complements the company’s SynWrap product, which enables single-layer cast or blown films down to around 12 microns. These paper-effect master- batches can be combined with colour, special effects, or functional additives such as a moisture- absorbing dessicant.
Below: CDs and DVDs are a potential application opportunity for Teknor Color’s MarTek anti-mar pigments
PHOTO: TEKNOR APEX
The 3D experience Other recent introductions from Ampacet include the Second Story line of masterbatches, which aim to create “energy beneath the surface to grab consumer attention,” according to Becker. It has also introduced its ReptyleFx technology, which creates a multi-sensorial effect of colour, pattern, texture, and three-dimensional appearance in multilayer and cast films. It says the masterbatches can achieve both rough and smooth textures within a film structure of two or more layers. The company has also created masterbatch products that replicate the appearance of concrete or steel for bottles and caps used in high-end packaging; in addition to colour, these concen- trates yield a “gritty” texture to the parts. Replication of natural surfaces was also
presented as part of Gabriel-Chemie’s Colour
Vision 17 annual trend preview.
The company says it is now able to effectively mimic the appearance of onyx, marble, oxidised metals and even concrete in numerous colour combinations, achieving effects such as marble veining, wood grain, and stone surfaces in plastic for the first time. “New technical ideas and solutions as well as the
trend towards individualisation are taking on an increasingly important role in the world of plastics. New effects such as marble, onyx and oxidation impress the consumer and stand out at the point of
60 COMPOUNDING WORLD | September 2017
sale,” says Trabert. The company says that achieving the optimal results requires careful matching of the polymer and masterbatch, as well as careful adjust- ment of processing machinery. Best results are said to be seen in injection moulding applications.
Getting functional In addition to the latest colours,
plastics processors are increasingly asking for “solutions,” such as combinations
of colorants, effects, and additives that provide functionality (for example, strength or weatherabil- ity), rather than simply colour alone. This trend began in markets such as agricultural/greenhouse film, where processors look for UV additives and other additives combined with a weatherable white pigment but has expanded to other markets, says Doug Brownfield, Global Value Chain Senior Manager at Ampacet. Similar to fully formulated compounds, combi-
nation masterbatches give users the assurance that the additives are compatible and will work well together. “We load four or five active ingredients into one masterbatch, which is often used at a higher letdown level than what is used for a single-component masterbatch,” Brownfield says. Teknor Color’s latest “functionalised” master-
batches include its MarTek range of colours combined with mar-resistant additives for polycar- bonate (PC). Increased mar-resistance for mould- ed PC is valuable in end-use products subject to extensive handling, such as CD and DVD discs, consumer electronics, and hand-held devices, says Edwin Tam, Marketing and Business Development Manager at Teknor Color. According to the company, independent optical surface profilometry carried out on parts moulded with both standard and MarTek concentrates were examined for depth of abrasion caused by weights applied at varying forces. Marring was virtually eliminated in the parts with the MarTek master- batch system at applied forces of 3N, 5N and 10N. At 15N and 20N the abrasion depth was reduced by up to 70% compared to the standard PC reference. The MarTek products are one of a series of functionalised colour masterbatch systems devel- oped by Teknor Color to help processors modify product properties without resort to a separate additive. Other functional colour offerings can
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PHOTO: AMPACET
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