Plastic color masterbatch & pigments - Which one is better?

There’s a common misperception that plastic color masterbatch and pigments are similar. In fact, though they are two main forms of polymer’s colorants, their characteristics and usages are quite different from each other. The question is, which one is the better choice? Let’s find out in this article!

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As customer’s demands are quickly changing over the last decade, plastic products are now not only required to be of higher quality, but also are more attractive, thus highlighting the importance of plastic colorants. Basically, they are divided into two main forms: plastic color masterbatch and pigments. 

Plastic color masterbatch and pigments – What is the difference?

Both plastic color masterbatch and pigments are coloured substances added to the plastic manufacturing process in order to create a more attractive appearance for end-products. However, there are a certain number of differences among those. While plastic color masterbatch is a combination of pigments, plastic resins and other specific additives in the form of masterbatch, pigments are simply coloured substances in the powder form. Hence, the way they are applied in the plastic products is also different.

How does the plastic color masterbatch outweigh pigments?

There are many reasons why plastic enterprises should choose plastic color masterbatch instead of pigments. 

Firstly, color masterbatch distributes better on plastic surface

Thanks to its composition, plastic color masterbatch is far more compatible with plastic mixture than its counterpart, which allows it to be directly added into the plastic manufacturing process without causing any color concentration on the plastic surface. Whereas, owing to its powder form, pigments need to be suspended in a liquid before being added to plastic to minimize the presence of color particles on the product’s surface. Hence, it tends to be more suitable with dyes, ink and paint, whose manufacturing process is water – related. 

Secondly, color masterbatch is more environmentally friendly

As plastic color masterbatch is in the form of granules, it doesn’t cause airborne during the manufacturing process, while pigments do. Their tiny particles easily spread into the air and contaminate adjacent manufacturing lines. This more or less affects worker’s health when they are excessively exposed to a polluted atmosphere for a long period.

Thirdly, color masterbatch is easier to store and preserve

Since pigments are in the powder form, it is more difficult to store, to preserve and to deliver them without causing any losses. On the contrary, color masterbatch is easier to store, move and manipulate masterbatches as they come in pellet form. 

Fourthly, color masterbatch saves the amount of pigments consumed

Do you know the concentration of pigment in a plastic color masterbatch is much less than that of pigment powder? As color masterbatch is mainly composed of plastic resins and pigments in the form of granules, it requires a lesser amount of pigments than the pure pigments itself. Plus, during the manufacturing process, pigment powder is significantly lost due to its distribution to the environment. 

Fifth, color masterbatch drives the efficiency of manufacturing process 

Not only does it disperse nicely on the plastic surface, color masterbatch also contains a number of specific additives such asprocessing aid, dispersion agent,… These substances considerably improve its performance in the manufacturing process, thus enhancing end-products’ quality.

Related: Color masterbatch for injection molding products

The main differences between color masterbatch and pigments are illustrated in this table below:

CriteriaPlastic color masterbatchPigmentsComponentsPigments, plastic resins and other specific additivesPigments onlyFormGranulesPowderDispersionExcellentMediumStore and preservationEasyDifficultPigment consumptionLowHighManufacturing efficiencyHighLowEnvironmental friendlinessGoodBad

All things considered, plastic color masterbatch should definitely be the best choice for enterprises when it comes to plastic colorants. According to end-products requirements, plastic enterprises will decide on the suitable colorants. Here are the most common types of color masterbatches for your reference.

Common types of plastic color masterbatches 

White masterbatch

The combination of Titanium Dioxide (TiO2), plastic resins and other specific additives has created white masterbatch – an effective colorant solution. TiO2 offers an extremely high refractive index compared to any other types of materials. This component provides end-products with a beautiful white color. By changing the loading rate of TiO2, plastic enterprises can adjust the level of brightness of the end-products. Unlike pigments, which normally create opacity by absorbing visible light, white masterbatch scatters light to provide opacity. This protects end-products from degradative effects of the sunlight as well as helping them be more durable and long-lasting. 

Thanks to its outstanding advantages, white masterbatch is widely applied in many applications such as packaging films, stretch films, mulching films or blown moulding,… It offers end-products a high level of brightness and transparency, great dispersion and UV resistance.

Related: All about plastic filler white: Components, benefits and applications

Black masterbatch

Another common type of color masterbatch is black masterbatch. This material is made of carbon black, plastic resins and necessary additives, thus offering end-products a beautiful black color. This composition allows black masterbatch to provide end-products with a high level of dispersion together with an ability of weather stabilization. These are also the greatest advantages introduced by black masterbatch in comparison with black pigments. Some common applications of black masterbatch are injection moulding and extrusion products.

Other types of color masterbatches

Good news for plastic enterprises, there is no limit for the range of color masterbatches. Depending on your end-products’ characteristics, an accurate proportion of components will be decided to ensure that they are totally compatible with the current mixture. Also, plastic enterprises can inquire about other necessary additives to exactly fit your end-products. On the contrary, pigment is itself only, which requires you to put more effort on material adjustment and processing. That also means more time and expenses needed. 

PolyFill plastic color masterbatch

As the market leader in the filler masterbatch market, PolyFill takes pride in providing customers with the highest quality color masterbatches. There are tons of colors available for your choice such as black masterbatch, white masterbatch and other customized colors. Specifically, we are able to develop tailor-made materials that exactly fit your end-products properties. PolyFill plastic color masterbatch has been now widely applied in many fields such as the packaging industry, construction, household appliances manufacturing,… Thanks to the state of the art technology and experienced experts, we are able to meet all of your requirements regarding technique or functionalities and even go beyond your expectations.

According to a report authored by Research Nester, the global color concentrate market will achieve a 7% CAGR during the 10 year-period of -. This growth will lead to a projected market value of $6.5 Bn by . The growing demand originates from various end-use industries including consumer goods, packaging, construction, and automotive. The packaging industry sub-segment continues to lead the growth demand for color concentrates.

https://www.researchnester.com/reports/color-concentrates-market/

What Are Color Concentrates?

Historically the most common form of Color Concentrates (a.k.a. masterbatches) are colored plastic pellets.  These concentrated colored pellets are typically built to contain 15-50% of specially selected pigments and additives.  The remainder of the recipe is a blend of carrier resin, process aids and binders to support consistency within the virgin base resin.

The initial consideration when designing a plastic component is ensuring the base resin AND the color concentrate are suitable for the selected forming process. Common process examples include injection mold, blow mold, injection stretch blow, compression mold and extrusion.

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Why? 

Each process example will introduce different performance stresses.  For example, during the injection molding process the selected resins, pigments, dyes, and additives must withstand extreme thermal heat, along with increased shear heat generated as the molten material is injected into the mold.

The combined Resin/Color Concentrate blend must also be suitable for its environment. It might need additives to screen out ultra-violet rays, or antioxidants and other stabilizers to protect against polymer degradation, which can lead to discoloration and product failure.

Alternate Path… 100% Pre-Color Compound

Although not largely used, 100% Pre-Color Compound is considered the easiest path to achieve a colored plastic component.  Pre-Color Compound provides the desired end-use color already incorporated within the base resin. This eliminates the need for material blending on the production floor. Pre-Color is often used for very small-size molded components, as the 100% use rate eliminates potential part-to-part color variation.

However, this convenience comes at a very high overall cost and often requires keeping considerable inventory on-hand due to typical industry minimum order requirements. Even with good forecasting, there is a looming threat a program reaches the end of its sales cycle before the pre-color compound inventory is fully depleted.

Color Concentrate Technology Options

The two most widely available choices for Color Concentrates (masterbatches) are either Pellet or Liquid delivery systems.  The question for processors becomes, which is the better option?

Both technologies provide different advantages and challenges.  Below is a brief overview of both liquid and traditional pellet options, followed by the introduction of new pelletized color technology solutions.

Liquid vs Pellet

LIQUID Colorant for manufacturing plastic products: 

Advantages:

• Effective at extremely low use rates, best suited for tints
• Less heat history than pellet concentrates
• Coloring costs can be lower than conventional pellet color

Challenges:

• Specialized pumps are required
• Several pigment and additive limitations
• Production interruptions caused by container changeover
• Screw slippage at high use rates, particularly with opaque and pearl
• Limited application with engineered polymers
• Not suitable for extrusion blow molding of HDPE bottles
• Increased housekeeping issues related to spill cleanup and special storage of dedicated hoses
• Limited shelf life due to product separation, leading to increased costs and wasted color
• Issues with sustainability due to wasted/residual product and packaging that often requires landfill disposal which is a hidden additional cost

PELLET Colorant for manufacturing plastic parts and products:

Advantages

• Pellets are easy to handle and can be dosed accurately through readily available volumetric and gravimetric feeding systems
• Excellent dispersion
• Reduced housekeeping and maintenance

Challenges

• Conventional pellet colorants are typically more costly than liquid colorant due to high let down ratios (LDR)

Ideally, a winning program requires a colorant format that provides all the Advantages… without any of the Challenges.

Introducing Chroma Color Corporation’s patented G-Series technologies.

Chroma’s G2®, UltraPETTM and G3® technologies provide vibrant, long-lasting colors essential to meet end-user demands within a convenient Pellet format at the price point in-line with Liquid.

Chroma Color G-Series

Key Attributes of G2® Color Include:

• Patented carrier system technology
• G2® provides substantial Cost-to-Color savings
• Highest loadings of Organic and Pearlescent Pigments in the industry
• Highest loadings of UV and AO custom colors in the industry
• G2® can provide greater than 10% cycle-time reduction
• Reduced environmental impact, resulting from a decrease in production energy, packaging materials, and CO2 emissions

Chroma Color’s G Series for Packaging Applications

Key attributes of UltraPET®

Color Include:

• Innovative proprietary carrier system
• UltraPET® technology allows for component processing at much lower temperature than conventional PET pellet concentrates. Lower process temperatures enable molders to significantly reduce potential heat stress on the pigments and dyes
• UltraPET® offers exceptionally high loadings of Pigments and Dyes, allowing processors significant economic benefits from low use rates
• The extremely low use rates (LDR) provided by UltraPET™ can often eliminate the need for drying and recrystallization common in conventional PET pellet concentrates
• UltraPET® concentrates are available in Mini-Beads for applications sensitive to color dispersion, particularly low-level Tints. Mini-Beads provide higher pellets/gram, increasing pellet distribution, promoting faster incorporation rates, leading to improved color dispersion
• UltraPET® concentrates are resistant to alcohol and can be formulated in both non-FDA and FDA compliant packages
• UltraPET® pellet concentrates reduce housekeeping costs compared to the difficulties associated with liquid color
• NEW – Chroma Color innovation has developed a unique UltraPET® explicitly designed for use with recycled materials. UltraPET PCR allows brand owners to further increase the levels of PET PCR within their package, supporting increased Sustainability Goals.

Key attributes of G3® Color Include:

• Patented manufacturing process technology
• G3® manufacturing process can be utilized across all major polymers AND carrier systems (standard, G2® or UltraPET™) providing processors the ultimate cost-to-color savings opportunity
• G3® achieves a further 20% (or more) increased pigment loading levels in polyethylene and polypropylene – without compromising pigment dispersion
• G3® offers formulations with 40-45% loading of dyes in HIPs, PET, Nylon, Crystal Styrene and Acrylic
• G3® offers formulations with 50+% pearlescent pigment loadings, nearly doubling the historical industry standard of ~30%

Summary:

As your team reviews various color concentrate options or establishes new performance standards for your plastic products, turn to a trusted colorant supplier to guide you through the process. Chroma Color Corporation can support your successful product launch, with easy processing, and adherence to all environmental and regulatory requirements… using unique patented technologies that enhance aggressive cost conscience programs.

About Chroma Color:

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