MATERIALS | PIGMENTS
Right: This yellow is one of a line of 12 new colours for engineering thermoplastics in the KeyPlast Resist range from Milliken
colours that could withstand these sorts of temperatures, due largely to the withdrawal of cadmium-based pigments. “We saw some gaps in the market, espe- cially in oranges,” he says. The company introduced a range of 12
IMAGE: MILLIKEN
non-nucleating, they will not induce warpage or create dimensional stability issues, the company says. They are also non-abrasive, so they will not affect glass fibre properties.
products to fill this perceived gap at K2019 late last year under the Keyplast Resist banner. They are suitable for use with resins such as polyamides, polysulphones, modified PPO (SABIC’s Noryl, for example), and a number of other high-heat polymers and alloys. The range includes five reds, one orange, three yellows, a green, a blue, and a violet black.
The PA challenge PA resins in particular have provided significant colouring challenges in the past due to their chemical composition, Palanisami says. “At first, many thought this problem to be related to the high heat processing requirements for nylons. But subsequent research revealed that normal color- ants are reacted with the amide group and ruined by discoloration due to the loss of conjugation in the colorant molecule.” Palanisami explains that precisely-controlled
Below: Many pigment
suppliers see opportunity in EV technology, which places high demands on colorants
colouration is often required in PA applications, such as components for power tools, automotive components, gears, and appliances. He says KeyPlast Resist grades can be used effectively with unfilled, glass reinforced, and flame retardant compounds. “They are high purity and perform well in the high-temperature and chemically-reduc- tive conditions typically associated with high-per- formance polymers,” he says. The KeyPlast Resist grades are said to be highly soluble in the polymer matrix and disperse well without leaving specks or streaking. As they are
Milliken says the new products were well received at the K show, and this has resulted in some fast approvals at polymer suppliers. Milliken says it is continuing to work on developments in the KeyPlast Resist range, with the aim of further improving thermal and light stability. Palanisami says
he sees good prospects for products in applica- tions such as electric vehicles, for example, where yellows, reds, and oranges are required for ID purposes. Pigments for such purposes must withstand high temperatures in both processing and use. He says the company is also carrying out more approval testing to ensure colours perform to specification in compounds containing a variety of different additives. The company says it is also investing heavily in
new proprietary chemistries beyond those it currently uses. It says it plans to introduce products based on new molecules in the red and orange range early next year. Target applications will include high-speed charging systems for EVs.
Regulatory drivers Regulation and performance are critical factors in pigment selection in today’s marketplace, accord- ing to Scott Heitzman, Business Development Manager – Plastics, Sun Chemical Performance Pigments. “In many cases, replacing diarylides or heavy metal yellows for better compliance in injection molded parts is now a regulatory require- ment or technical need,” he says. Heitzman cites the example of the company’s
new Fanchon Yellow 191 279-9191 pigment as both an economical and high-performance red shade yellow. It is globally-compliant and FDA approved in conditions B-H up to a 1% loading. It also delivers heat fastness in most polymer systems to 275°C to 300°C. He also highlights its new phthalocyanines (PCNs). Fastogen Blue 248-55AE is a hemi-chlorinated PB 15:1 specifically designed for injection moulding that will deliver “durable red shade blue colour at high temperatures and performs very well at low concentrations across a variety of polymers,” he says. Also new is SunFast Green 264-77FF, which was originally intended for colouring fibre but is now finding use in injection
32 COMPOUNDING WORLD | September 2020
www.compoundingworld.com
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
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