MATERIALS | COLOUR AND MASTERBATCH
Sun Chemical shines light on German facility
US group Sun Chemical broadened its products, services and locations in the pigments market with its 2021 acquisition of BASF’s global pigments business (known as BASF Colors & Effects before the takeover). It also helped towards Sun’s sustainability and efficiency strategies, as demon- strated at a new mixing plant opened by its Sun Chemical Color Solutions masterbatch business in Cologne, Germany last year. The state-of-the-art, energy-effi- cient mixing plant occupies 1,700 m² of floor space enabling an increase in production capacity. It features digitalised and automated processes, along with optimised internal trans- port routes. The Cologne Masterbatch Compe-
tence Centre (MCC) develops new masterbatches and facilitates the production of small quantities, ranging from 25 kg to 100 kg. To ensure Sun Chemical’s master-
batches meet the highest industry standards and requirements, it has invested in advanced equipment to test its products, including injection moulding machines, blown film lines, small extruders, colour measurement devices and MVR devices. It is
colour aligns with the customer’s vision and required standards.” The company says it also conducts
thorough inspections of the hue and colour strength of the raw materials used. “This key step not only ensures that the materials comply with the cus- tomers’ expectations but also helps avert potential production issues.” It continues: “In terms of quality
IMAGE: SUN CHEMICAL
Above: Loading station at mixing plant opened by Sun Chemical Color Solutions in Cologne
equipped with tools for determining residual moisture content, ash content, density, melting point and microscopy. It says: “Backed by a colour metric system that possesses an extensive pigment library, Sun Chemical Color Solutions’ experienced colorists focus on customisation. This allows the development of new colour samples tailored to customers’ specific require- ments. Additionally, the firm produces numerous samples to ensure that the
colour and, where applicable, functional and combination masterbatches based on this carrier system can be used across continents for appropri- ate applications ranging from translucent and opaque rigid and flexible packaging, toys, and household items, to machine components and equipment used in food processing. Rudolf Reinhart, Product Manager at Tosaf Color
Service, explains: “Our new carrier system has a very similar structure to our previous standard and is therefore just as compatible with the thermoplas- tics used in these applications. It also has virtually identical mechanical and processing characteris- tics. This has been confirmed by preliminary testing carried out in-house and at Kunststoff-Institut Lüdenscheid, and by pilot masterbatch applica- tions at customers. The key difference is that it doesn’t contain potentially harmful chemical
20 INJECTION WORLD | July/August 2023
control, each produced batch under- goes careful inspection. Test samples are produced with devices that simulate the customers’ processing methods. For instance, if a customer uses an injection moulding process, the tests are conducted on the injection moulding part accordingly.” Sun Chemical says it is “setting decisive standards in masterbatch technology, offering vibrant solutions that reinforce businesses across diverse industries. The company is heavily invested in sustainability, striving to minimise its environmental footprint while promoting responsible practices. Comprehensive sustainabil- ity guidelines drive the company’s commitment to not only develop environmentally friendly masterbatch solutions, but also to reduce waste and conserve resources.”
substances that could migrate into foodstuffs.” Highly variable inherent colour in polyketone
(PK) makes universal use difficult and it often requires colouring. Yet when PK is coloured with carbon black, an undesirable side effect often occurs during which the PK is damaged and can no longer be processed. German colour specialist AF-Color has examined this issue in depth and has developed a novel black masterbatch for PK in the form of a special grade of carbon black used in combination with a stabiliser system. An accompa- nying portfolio of stable colour masterbatches for PK has also been developed. Bio-based plastics are being used more fre-
quently, particularly in packaging where colouring plays a crucial role. AF-Color first addressed this issue some time ago with the introduction of the AF-Eco range. In the latest development, natural
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