When it comes to colouring or imparting additional properties to almost every thermoplastic, choosing masterbatch is a no-brainer. The convenience of the pellets as opposed to powder during handling, the consistency in the concentration of the pigment, and the optimal dispersion all make it the manufacturers’ first choice.
Along with this, masterbatches are being used to speed up the degradation process in plastics, making them more environmentally friendly. The type of masterbatch you choose depends on the specific application and requirements of the plastic you’ll be adding it to. Here is a guide you can use when choosing:
If you want to mask colours, improve UV resistance, and enhance conductivity
While the most obvious reason to use black masterbatch is to achieve a deep black colour in your plastic or mask a tinted colour, it also adds useful properties. The carbon black has effective ultraviolet resistance that noticeably slows down colour fading in plastic due to sunlight exposure. Along with this, the conductive additives enhance the overall conductivity of the plastic and are useful for plastics packaging electric appliances, flammable materials or medical devices that need to be properly grounded.
Black masterbatch is widely used and is the most cost-effective option. If you’re after an affordable, sleek, and durable plastic, then using black masterbatch is the right choice.
If you want colour
As the name suggests, colour masterbatch is used to add various colours to plastics. If you have specific colour requirements of your plastic, a colour can be custom-made to match the desired colour. It is versatile and can be blended with other masterbatch additives. Another bonus is that it requires much less inventory than other colouring options like pre-coloured resins and is generally more cost-effective.
If you’re after colourful, customisable plastic with minimal wastage, using colour masterbatch is your best bet.
If you want a uniform, white colour
White masterbatch is typically used to provide a consistent and uniform white colour to plastics. This masterbatch can also improve the opacity of your plastic, which can be helpful in applications where you don’t want light to pass through the material. It offers the same UV resistance as black masterbatch and is heat resistant and non-toxic. This option is ideal for plastics that need a polished white finish.
If you want to add properties to your plastic
Flame retardancy, antistatic properties and UV stabilisers can all be added to your plastics with additive masterbatches. As mentioned earlier, additive plastics can be (and is now commonly) used to increase the biodegradability and recyclability of plastics. Another benefit is that you can customise this type of masterbatch according to the desired properties for your plastic so if you have specific requirements, additive masterbatches will effectively enhance the properties.
You can use additive masterbatch in conjunction with colour, white, and black masterbatch and still get the most desirable outcome.
Using masterbatch will increase the value of your plastic, especially if you know which one to choose. You’ll be able to get expert advice and affordable options, contact one of the team today.
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