Introduction of The Masterbatch

What is the Masterbatch?

Masterbatch is a resin component or base material in reinforced plastics in which fibers or other reinforcing materials are dispersed. The continuous phase in composite materials is called masterbatch or base material.

What is the plastic masterbatch?

It is a concentrate made by attaching a super-normal amount of plastic additives to resin; when manufacturing plastic products, it is not necessary to add this kind of plastic additives, but only the corresponding masterbatch. Therefore, it is one of the most important forms of plastic additive application in the world today. Its advantages are: simple process, easy to use, easy to realize production automation, improve labor productivity, avoid environmental pollution, and contribute to clean and civilized production that is healthy for workers.

Classification of plastic masterbatch

Filling masterbatch：The main component of filled masterbatch is filler, which is mainly used for the processing and molding of polyolefins (polyethylene and polypropylene). It is also called polyolefin filled masterbatch.

Raw and auxiliary materials: Polyolefin filled masterbatch is composed of three parts: carrier resin, filler and various additives, of which filler accounts for the main component, up to 90%. Polyolefin filler masterbatch is mainly used in the production of polyolefin plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene. Such as: polyethylene hollow blow molded products, polyethylene injection molded products and polyethylene films, polypropylene woven bags, woven cloth and packing tapes, etc. Generally, when selecting raw and auxiliary materials for olefin filled masterbatch, good performance and low cost should be taken into consideration.

(1) Filler

The fillers used in polyolefin filler masterbatch are mainly heavy calcium carbonate, followed by inorganic fillers such as talc powder, kaolin clay, and wollastonite powder. For any inorganic filler, particle size and particle size distribution are important technical indicators. Generally, the smaller the particle size and narrower the distribution, the better the filling effect. In addition, the filling effect is also related to the dispersion. The smaller the particle size, the more difficult it is to disperse and the higher the price. Purity is another important technical indicator of inorganic fillers. The lower the impurity content and the higher the purity, the better. Generally, when heavy calcium carbonate is selected, its content should be as high as possible, and the general requirement is above 94%. After ensuring that other indicators meet the requirements, the price should be low to help reduce the cost of the masterbatch.

(2) Carrier resin

The performance and cost of polyolefin filled masterbatch mainly depend on the carrier resin. Usually, depending on the use of the masterbatch, the carrier resin content is generally 10% to 20%. The carrier resin used in the polyolefin filled masterbatch should have good compatibility with the filled plastic matrix resin.

(3) Auxiliary

The main types of additives used in polyolefin filled masterbatch are dispersants and surface treatment agents. The function of the dispersant is to improve the processing fluidity of the masterbatch and facilitate the more even dispersion of the masterbatch in the matrix resin. Commonly used dispersants include: white oil (liquid paraffin), paraffin wax, dioctyl phthalate (BOP), low molecular weight polyethylene (polyethylene wax), stearic acid, etc. The main properties of commonly used dispersants can be selected based on the performance characteristics of fillers and carrier resins. Surface treatment agents can change the surface activity of inorganic fillers from hydrophilic to lipophilic to facilitate mixing with the carrier resin. There are mainly two types: coupling agents and stearic acid.

ColorMaster Batch     

Color Master Batch, also known as color species, is a new type of special colorant for polymer materials, also known as Pigment Preparation. It is composed of three basic elements: pigments or dyes, carriers and additives. It is an aggregate obtained by evenly loading a super-normal amount of pigments or dyes in a resin. It can be called a pigment concentration (Pigment Concentration), so its The tinting power is higher than the pigment itself.

The basic ingredients of color masterbatch are:

1.Pigments or dyes

Pigments are divided into organic pigments and inorganic pigments

Commonly used organic pigments include: phthalocyanine red, phthalocyanine blue, phthalocyanine green, light-fast red, macromolecular red, macromolecular yellow, permanent yellow, permanent purple, azo red, etc.

Commonly used inorganic pigments include: cadmium red, cadmium yellow, titanium dioxide, carbon black, iron oxide red, iron oxide yellow, etc.

2. Carrier

It is the matrix of masterbatch. For special masterbatch, the same resin as the product resin is generally selected as the carrier. The two have the best compatibility, but the fluidity of the carrier must also be considered.

3. Dispersant

To promote the uniform dispersion of pigments and no longer agglomeration, the melting point of the dispersant should be lower than that of the resin, have good compatibility with the resin, and have good affinity with the pigment. The most commonly used dispersants are: polyethylene low molecular weight wax and stearate.

4.Additives

Such as flame retardant, brightening, antibacterial, antistatic, antioxidant and other varieties. Unless the customer requests it, the above additives are generally not included in the color masterbatch.

Functional color masterbatch

The production process of functional color masterbatch is to produce products by surface treatment of colorants and surfactants of general color masterbatch with functional additives and dispersion additives, and then kneading, masticating, crushing, and granulating. 

Use

Use color masterbatch or functional color masterbatch to produce plastic products. The colorant has good dispersion in the product, bright color, no color spots or color difference on the surface of the product, easy color change, low cost, environmental friendliness, and low labor intensity. It is a plastic coloring method with wide application and good development prospects.

Today, color masterbatch and functional color masterbatch are widely used in polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, ABS, nylon, PC, PMMA, PET and other resins to produce colorful fibers, clothing, daily plastics, Wires and cables, household appliances, agricultural films, auto parts, health care equipment and other products.

Functional masterbatch

Functional color masterbatch is a masterbatch that not only has the functions of ordinary color masterbatch, but also gives other functions to plastic products. These functions include weather resistance, antistatic function, flame retardant function

Advantage

Pigment dispersion

Masterbatch is an aggregate made by evenly loading a super-normal amount of pigment into resin.

During the production process of masterbatch, the pigment must be refined to improve the dispersion and tinting power of the pigment. The carrier of the special color masterbatch is the same as the plastic type of the product, and has good matching. After heating and melting, the pigment particles can be well dispersed in the plastic product.

Chemical stability

If the pigment is used directly, since the pigment is in direct contact with the air during storage and use, the pigment will absorb water, oxidize and other phenomena. After being made into a color masterbatch, the resin carrier will isolate the pigment from air and moisture, which can prevent the quality of the pigment from improving for a long time. Change.

Color stable

Masterbatch particles are similar to resin particles, making them more convenient and accurate in measurement. They will not stick to the container during mixing, and are mixed with the resin more evenly. Therefore, the stability of the added amount can be ensured, thereby ensuring the stability of the color of the product.

Personnel health

Pigments are generally in powder form and easily fly when added and mixed. If inhaled by the human body, it will affect the health of the operator.

Keep the environment clean and do not contaminate utensils.

Save raw materials

Since pigments are in direct contact with air during storage and use, phenomena such as moisture absorption, oxidation, and agglomeration will occur. Direct use will cause color spots to appear on the surface of plastic products. The hue will be dark, the color will fade easily, and it will cause damage during mixing. The flying dust affects the health of operators. The masterbatch is mechanically processed during the production process, and the pigment is refined, and the pigment is fully mixed with the resin carrier and dispersant to isolate the pigment from air and moisture, thereby enhancing the weather resistance of the pigment and improving the It improves the dispersion and tinting power of pigments and makes the color bright. Since the masterbatch has a similar shape to the resin particles, it is more convenient and accurate to measure and will not stick to the container during mixing, thus saving time on cleaning containers and machines, as well as the raw materials used to clean the machine.

Pigment properties

Heat resistance

PVC and PE pigments have a temperature resistance of 160-180 degrees Celsius

ABS and PS pigments have a temperature resistance of 250-280 degrees Celsius

Pigments of PP, PA, and PET with a temperature resistance of over 280 degrees generally require a heat-resistant time of 4-10 minutes. Generally, the higher the use temperature, the shorter the heat-resistant time. Phthalocyanine blue pigment has a temperature resistance of 325 degrees Celsius and changes color in 10 minutes.

Mobility

The migration resistance of pigments means that when colored plastic products are in long-term contact with other solid, liquid, gas, etc. substances or work in a specific environment, they may have physical and chemical interactions with the above substances, which will cause the pigment to migrate from inside the plastic. Migrate to the free surface of the article or into adjacent plastics or solvents.

Precautions

Instructions

The use of color masterbatch is very simple. You only need to mix it with resin particles according to the specified ratio and mix it by hand.

Use ratio

The basis for determining the proportion of color masterbatch used is to obtain a satisfactory coloring effect. As long as the surface tone of the product is uniform and there are no streaks or spots, it can be approved.

The cost

When calculating the cost of masterbatch coloring, the weight of the masterbatch itself should be deducted.

Product Cost

In most cases this is the case. But in some cases, using masterbatch coloring is more economical than using toner coloring, because colorists can achieve the coloring effect of higher-priced pigments through a combination of several lower-priced pigments.

Drying

Masterbatch generally does not need to be dried and can be used directly. However, except for ABS and NY masterbatch, they should be dried according to conventional processes.

Formulate colors

Generally, companies often use several color masterbatches to prepare specific colors for small-volume customers.

However, without the guidance of the company's technical personnel, customers are not allowed to use several color masterbatches together on their own initiative, let alone mix color masterbatches produced by different companies, to avoid incompatibility and losses.