Understanding Plastic Colorants & Types of Colorants
Plastic colorants or dyes are chemical compounds that color different plastic products. These compounds are dyes and pigments that have properties to produce various colors and hues more efficiently. The types of plastic colorants are decided based on the polymeric resin used to color plastic products.
Appearance is the first impression when it comes to purchasing a product. Plastics get their unique appearance from premium quality food colors, which make them visually appealing and distinct. Various colors can help plastic manufacturers differentiate their products in an overcrowded market. There are several ways to make a lasting impression on consumers with color, including packaging, automotive components, and even packaging for consumer goods.
Generally, polystyrene, polycarbonate, and acrylic polymers are used for dyes in plastic colorant formulation. Pigments work best with polyolefins when used in colorant applications. Talking about plastic colorant usages, they are generally applied to knead colorants into plastics to give them a desired color.
If you’re still wondering about the various applications of plastic colorants, their roles, applications, and types, then this blog is for you. In this blog post, we will walk you through everything you need to know about plastic colorants or dyes for your business.
So, let’s get started with the basics!
Understanding Plastic Colorants
As already discussed, plastic colorants are plastic dyes or colorants used to color plastics to efficiently provide them with a more appealing, attractive, and vibrant color.
Plastic colorants are most commonly used in plastics manufacturing and serve as a transformative force, transforming dull, monochromatic materials into highly appealing, vibrant, and eye-catching products.
Type of Colorants
There are various types of colorants, including but not limited to “masterbatches,” “colored pellets/colored compounds,” “liquid masterbatches/paste colors,” and “dry colors.“ The process involves mixing natural pellets (plastic particles) with coloring materials and molding the mixture.
1. Masterbatches and Surface Coating of Plastic Colorants
The delivery of plastic colorants in plastic molding can be done in various ways, including masterbatches (concentrates), which are prepared by separating the focus from the resin, cube blends (“salt & pepper mixes” – dry blending), which are natural polymers sprayed into surface coatings, pre-colored resins, and natural polymers, which make manufacturing cheaper by using pre-colored materials.
When pigment powder (or dye) is mixed with additives and a carrier, it is done in a specific way and with equipment. A pigment powder’s molecules are fully merged with the molecules of the carrier resin after they have been heated, plasticized, stirred, and sheared. As a result, pigment particles of similar size to resin particles are created in a predefined, standardized manner.
Read More: What is Food Coloring?
2. Plastic Colorants: Environmental Considerations
Plastic colorants are widely used in various industrial applications, including imparting colors to plastics, food packaging, and surface coating. In plastic coloration formulation, most molders use masterbatches, which include concentrated pigments dispersed in polymer carriers. Therefore, it is important to mix the masterbatch with natural resin at a predetermined ratio to achieve the desired color during molding.
The sustainability movement has led manufacturers to explore eco-friendly colorants that minimize environmental damage. By adding these additives, plastic products can be recycled, reducing their carbon footprint. Incorporating sustainable colorants into plastics manufacturing contributes to a more environmentally conscious and responsible approach.
3. Premium Colorants We Produce at Hridhan Chem
At Hridhan Chem Pvt. Ltd., we understand that these additives are far more than mere enhancements; they are essential elements that define plastic goods’ visual identity, functionality, and market appeal.
We offer a comprehensive range of high-quality plastic colorants and pigments that enable manufacturers across industries to meet technical requirements, engage consumers, and meet consumer expectations. We are committed to producing and supplying innovative and sustainable colorants that showcase quality and precision and help you gain a competitive edge in plastics manufacturing.
Hridhan Chem Pvt. Ltd. is more than just a manufacturer and supplier of plastic colorants; it also produces a variety of dyes/colorants and pigments used in foods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, home and personal care, and plastic products.
We are here to help you stand out in your plastic manufacturing business in a crowded market. It is our collective mission to shape a world in which plastics are admired and performed as well as possible. For more information on the comprehensive range of plastic colorants and pigments we produce at our manufacturing facilities, get in touch with us today!
