MATERIALS | COLOURS AND MASTERBATCH
new version of UltraPET is specifically for use with recycled material. As with Avient, Chroma Color has been involved
in M&A activity in recent months: in June, it acquired Epolin Chemicals, a supplier of near-infra- red absorbing dyes and thermoplastic compounds headquartered in New Jersey, US. Epolin serves customers developing products in sensors, security inks, light filters, touch screens, night vision products, and eyewear. This move followed the January purchase of Plastics Color Corpora- tion (PCC), which has facilities in North Carolina and Illinois producing colour concentrates, functional additives and custom masterbatch; the Illinois plant is being closed however. Tom Bolger, CEO of Chroma Color, highlighted PCC’s presence in medical and pharmaceutical products, food packaging and construction applications.
Hot colours Earlier this year, Clariant announced availability of colour masterbatches for use in producing new FAKRA high-speed data connectors for next-gener- ation automobiles. The new masterbatches, available in 14 standard colours, were developed by Clariant in cooperation with major global polymer producers. UL-Yellow Card listed, change controlled, and globally available, the colour concentrates help ensure performance and colour stability in high-temperature engineering plastics – including PA 66, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyphenylene amides (PPA) – used to make the FAKRA connectors. This new application – FAKRA connectors are
Below: Colours developed in a ski boot project between Clariant ColorWorks and Francesco Franceschetti Elastomeri
slated to begin appearing in 2021 model cars – poses a number of challenges, says Clariant. “The connectors are colour coded, so faithful reproduc- tion of the standard hues is essential. They must be physically tough, electrically and fire safe. Addition- ally, they must tolerate not only the thermal stresses of injection moulding and lead-free hot-air reflow soldering during assembly, but also the long-term mechanical and weathering stresses of
Right: Trays coloured using Chroma Color’s UltraPET
IMAGE: CHROMA COLOR
under-hood, under-body, or outdoor automotive applications.” According to Peter Dufour, Global Segment
Head and Business Development for Consumer Electronics, Electricals and Electronics at Clariant Masterbatches, “The market for FAKRA-compliant coloured resins is in flux, with connector makers seeking reliable, colour-stable supplies but in relatively low quantities. Moulders are typically not yet able to commit to the large volumes that resin makers supply, especially in the initial stages of production or for the smaller colours’ production. Clariant’s masterbatches enable the creation of colour-stable ‘natural-plus-masterbatch’ resin mixes of any volume, with any of a range of high-temper- ature engineering polymers, and in any of the 14 FAKRA standard colours.” AF-Color is following a similar path. It says it has
created masterbatches that are colour-intensive yet heat-stable. They are designed for use in a wide variety of carriers. For example, PPA, PPS or PEEK. The colourants contained have a temperature stability of up to 350° C.
Colour creation An in-depth research and colour-finding project recently completed in partnership with Clariant ColorWorks has given Francesco Franceschetti Elastomeri (FFE), an Italian supplier of thermoplas- tic elastomer (TPE) compounds, what could be an invaluable competitive edge in one of its primary markets: ski boots. Beginning in June 2019, Clariant and FFE pooled
IMAGE: CLARIANT
38 INJECTION WORLD | July/August 2020
their resources to conduct an exhaustive study of the Italian ski boot marketplace and the colours that boot makers use in their products. Resulting in a comprehensive report and guide, including five colours proposed for the 2021-2022 ski season, it started with fact-finding visits to numerous boot dealers, ski shops and sports chain stores that gave
www.injectionworld.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
