Plastic colorants are chemical compounds used to color plastic. Those compounds come in a form of dyes and pigments. The type of a colorant is chosen based on the type of a polymeric resin, that needs to be colored. [ citation needed] Dyes are usually used with polycarbonates, polystyrene and acrylic polymers. Pigments are better suited for use with polyolefins. [1] [2]
The colorant must satisfy various constraints, for example, the compound must be [3] chemically compatible with the base resin, be a suitable match with a color standard (see e.g. International Color Consortium), be chemically stable, which in this case means being able to survive the stresses and processing temperature ( heat stability) in the fabrication process and be durable enough to match the life duration of the product.
The parameters of the compound vary with a desired effect, which may include the final product being pearlescent, metallic, fluorescent, phosphorescent, thermochromic or photochromic. [4]
The exact chemical formula will furthermore depend on the type of application: general purpose, food contact item, toy, package subject to CONEG, [5] etc. [4]
Different methods for delivering colorants in molding plastics include masterbatches (concentrates), a method which involves a concentrate being separated into resin, cube blends ("salt & pepper mixes" - dry blending) which are natural polymers, already sprayed into natural polymers, surface coating, and precolored resins, which involve using precolored materials to make manufacturing cheaper. [6] [7]
Colorant | Chemical class | Type |
---|---|---|
Diarylide pigment | azo dye | pigment |
Sudan stain | azo dye | dye |
Oil Blue A | anthraquinone | dye |
Disperse Red 11 | anthraquinone | dye |
Plastic colorants are chemical compounds used to color plastic. Those compounds come in a form of dyes and pigments. The type of a colorant is chosen based on the type of a polymeric resin, that needs to be colored. [ citation needed] Dyes are usually used with polycarbonates, polystyrene and acrylic polymers. Pigments are better suited for use with polyolefins. [1] [2]
The colorant must satisfy various constraints, for example, the compound must be [3] chemically compatible with the base resin, be a suitable match with a color standard (see e.g. International Color Consortium), be chemically stable, which in this case means being able to survive the stresses and processing temperature ( heat stability) in the fabrication process and be durable enough to match the life duration of the product.
The parameters of the compound vary with a desired effect, which may include the final product being pearlescent, metallic, fluorescent, phosphorescent, thermochromic or photochromic. [4]
The exact chemical formula will furthermore depend on the type of application: general purpose, food contact item, toy, package subject to CONEG, [5] etc. [4]
Different methods for delivering colorants in molding plastics include masterbatches (concentrates), a method which involves a concentrate being separated into resin, cube blends ("salt & pepper mixes" - dry blending) which are natural polymers, already sprayed into natural polymers, surface coating, and precolored resins, which involve using precolored materials to make manufacturing cheaper. [6] [7]
Colorant | Chemical class | Type |
---|---|---|
Diarylide pigment | azo dye | pigment |
Sudan stain | azo dye | dye |
Oil Blue A | anthraquinone | dye |
Disperse Red 11 | anthraquinone | dye |