COLOUR AND MASTERBATCH | MATERIALS
Adding a splash of colour
A wide range of options are available for the injection moulder when looking for colourants and colour masterbatches. Mark Holmes looks at some recent developments
Injection moulders need reliable, consistent and innovative suppliers of colourants and colour masterbatches able to provide the important level of product differentiation now required in many applications. However, there are a number of issues that need to be taken into consideration when making a selection. According to Tim Duncan, RTP Company Global Color Technology Manager, the injection moulding industry is looking for suppliers that can provide resources to help guide colour choices and materials for injection mouldable plastics. “Suppliers need to offer consistent colour, regardless of geographic location, as well as greater technical support for demanding outdoor applications and regulatory compliance with global standards,” he says. “The industry is also always looking for creative, original ‘wow’ factors to differentiate competitive products. Colour experts often look to fashion, automotive, interior design, food, and other industries to develop colour predictions. At RTP Company, our colour experts offer colour palettes that showcase the current trends specifically for thermoplastic colour.” Other trends in colour technology for injection moulders include meeting the needs of additive manufacturing which is being adopted by some injection moulders. “As 3D printing becomes more prevalent, colour and masterbatch solutions will need to be developed to meet the ever increasing palettes and host material demands to support consumer demand for diversity and originality,” says Duncan. “In addition, some of the traditional industry challenges for special effects, such as
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metallics, pearlescence and sparkle, are expanding from commodity polymers into some of the more demanding higher temperature/performance polymers, pushing the boundaries of available colourants and processes. At RTP Company, we are also seeing strong interest in UV protection for plastic items that are intended for outdoor use, such as playground equipment and HVAC hous- ings. There is also an increasing call for laser-welda- ble and laser-markable products from all industries, and significant increased demand for both auto- motive and medical applications. “RTP Company is continuously working with our suppliers, evaluating each new colourant and additive available to improve on existing technol- ogy or offer some new appearance attribute. We recognise appearance is more than colour alone and continue to explore the limits of products
Main image: OnColor Brilliant Metallic colourants from PolyOne are special effect masterbatches that meet the need for paint replacement and premium surface finish
This trunk release handle is a good example of coloured, glow-in-the dark thermoplastic technology that was used in the automotive market to improve visibility and meet regulations
July/August 2018 | INJECTION WORLD 29
PHOTO: RTP COMPANY
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