Additives That Enhance Polymer Properties

Invisible UV radiation breaks down polymer molecules in plastics. This leads to deterioration in physical strength, color and other integral properties of plastics. You must have seen the effects of UV on polymers in stadium seats or in plastic garden chairs. The surface usually turns yellow after prolonged exposure and after a while, big chunks start breaking apart, imparting a really ugly look to it. Something has to be done to arrest deterioration in plastics; thankfully there are products that have been designed exactly for that.

UV Absorbers
Hydroxybenzophenone & hydroxyphenylbenzotriazole are two commonly used Polymer Additives that react with UV rays and prevent it from damaging polymer molecules. After application, it converts UV into harmless infrared rays which keep the plastic protected from the symptoms of UV degradation.

Anti-Microbial Additives
Did you know that untreated polymers can lead microbes to thrive in nooks and corners of plastic furniture at your home? The risk was assessed quite a long time ago and Anti-Microbial Additives were designed to prevent that from happening. Anti-Microbial Additives are commonly applied in all kitchens as well as garden plastic products you will find in market today.

Optical brighteners
The paper we use to write on would have had a yellowish tinge to it had it not been for Polymer Additives that add brightness and whiteness to the final product.  How an optical brightener works is by absorbing invisible ultraviolet light and re-emitting it as visible light in the blue range of the spectrum. Optical brighteners, or fluorescent whitening agents, are used to make plastics, fibers, coatings, inks, and detergents appear whiter and brighter.

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Odor Absorbers – Making Plastics Smell Better

Plastics have an inherent odor that is quite unpleasant. This happens because during the manufacturing process, several chemicals are used to make the final product more appealing and long lasting. There are plasticizers and artificial colors that are basically chemicals and in the past, most of these released smelly gases. In recent days, the problem has been largely solved with improved ingredients in Masterbatches. The main ingredient that makes plastic less smelly is known as odor absorbers and we will get more into that later,  but first let’s begin by understanding what the industry did to counter malodor in plastic products.

 Use of fragrant masks
Malodor in plastics is caused primarily by two things.  The first which is more common is bacteria and microbial organisms that emit gases during respiration. Though this seems not much of a problem but when you consider the fact that there could be millions of them on the surface of a plastic product and you have a big problem on your hands.

Masterbatches which contain anti-microbial agents can control the problem to a great extent, but it is only part of the solution because there is another reason behind smelly plastics – VOC.

Volatile organic compounds contain harmful chemicals that smell bad and are detrimental to human health. There is double interest among masterbatch makers therefore, to provide solution to this problem. Until now this was dealt with the help of masks that tried its best to keep the odor under control but was not very efficient at doing that. Sooner or later when the masks wore off, smell would return, making this a rather very ineffective solution. That was the past recent masterbatches come laced with something that is better at doing what it is supposed to do – keep odors out.

Use of odor absorbers
Quite early into application processors found that masks were failing in being effective. This gave rise to the need for something that went beyond the surface and did more than just mask the smell away with fragrance. The need was for: odor absorbers. This additive trapped VOC molecules and dealt with the issue at the very core. To make sure that smell was completely eliminated, Color masterbatches makers never did away with using masks. Now you will observe that plastics do not smell at all and that is because of these recent developments. 

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How a masterbatch supplier manufactures masterbatch?

All ingredients that are necessary to prepare a masterbatch are gathered and mixed together to form a homogenous mixture. The product thus formed is then subjected to shearing stress and converted in manageable pellets. To ensure a consistent mixture of all ingredients the mixture is taken through a series of devices such as strainers, kneaders and extrudes. This is done to ensure a thorough distribution of all ingredients throughout the masterbatch.

How masterbatch is applied?

Once the product leaves the masterbatch supplier, it can be used in many different ways. Some prefer to apply it directly to the stream using either volumetric dosing or graviametric dosing. The first method is economically more desirable compared to the later but it provides less control over calibration. The second process is more precise when it comes to calibration but setting up a graviametric plant is a costly affair. Getting the perfect result is difficult because even the slightest inconsistency in colour or thickness becomes readily apparent. To dull the effect, weaker dosing is done, gradually adding to the dosage as necessary. Masterbatches entirely take out the need for guesswork out of the equation. There is no need to experiment with the sample because a masterbatch supplier guarantees what to expect from the end result. 

A masterbatch supplier provides masterbatches to guarantee reliable colour and physical properties in a batch. Masterbatches offer cost savings compared to compound materials; it provides optimum distribution in the sample and saves on cleaning costs.

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The ever evolving masterbatches and their applications

Leading masterbatch manufacturers in India have developed a wide range of masterbatches, which are made of highly durable polymer additives. The most common types of masterbatches include Additive Masterbatches, Black Masterbatch, Color Masterbatch, Filler Masterbatch, Agricultural Masterbatch, PET Masterbatch, ROTOPOL, UV Masterbatch, White Masterbatch, and Conductive Black Compound.

The high quality masterbatches are required in many applications such as Injection Molding, Blow Molding, Film Extrusion, Sheet Extrusion, PP and PE Woven Sack Intrusion, ROTO Molding, PP and PE Mono Filaments, and Pipe Extrusion. There are countless other applications wherein masterbatches, which are made of find quality polymer additives, are required to produce the end-products.

Earlier there were only a few manufacturers in the market; however in the last one decade, many new players have jumped on the bandwagon to produce masterbatches of different types to meet the growing demand for quality Masterbatches at affordable prices. Plus, the reputed manufacturers/companies have begun to leverage on the advanced manufacturing technologies to mass produce masterbatches of world-class quality. To find the top brands in the market, you just need to do this: land on the Google page and begin a search for the leading masterbatch manufacturers in India and check out a couple of websites to get to know them better.

For more on masterbatches and the leading masterbatch manufacturers in India, please read our other blog posts.

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Masterbatch – What are they and where they are used?

Plastics are an important element in our daily lives and Masterbatches play an important role in the manufacturing of plastics across the world. Let’s start with understanding Masterbatches first. Masterbatch is a concentrated mixture of pigments and/or additives encapsulated during a heat process into a carrier resin which is then cooled and cut into a granular phase. The main task of Masterbatches is that they allow the processor to color raw polymers in a cost effective way during the manufacturing of plastics.

There are typically two types of polymer resins are used.  Carrier resin and dilution resin. Carrier resins are resins in which the pigments and/or additives are carried and which forms the masterbatch. While dilution resin makes up the bulk of the plastic processor’s finish product. To meet the rising demand for plastic products, there have been numerous Masterbatch Manufacturers in India.

Inorganic pigments are manufactured from natural raw materials and include fundamental types such as titanium dioxide, iron oxides and ultramarine blue. At the same time, it is important to notice that some types are not used due to their toxic levels. On the other hand, organic pigments are synthesized and possess lower heat stability than inorganics. One of the major drawbacks of this type of pigment system is that they are generally non-toxic and conform to legislation relating to food contact and safety.

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The colorful world of color Masterbatches

Have you tried to know how plastic products get colors? These colors seem very much attractive but there is great science behind these colors. There are Masterbatches used to bring colors to them. Their purpose is not just to add colors but also in making the best color match using spectrophotometer. The most expensive the product is, the better quality masterbatch will be required. For best results, you may need to shell out some more but after all you’re getting quality.

A large number of plastic products including toys, cosmetics and medical devices employ the use of color Masterbatches that are primarily used to add colors. Adding colors is not the only task as the embedded colors should also be stable and attractive. Especially for toys, the colors should be contrasting and eye-catching. Actually the use of Masterbatches depends on the exact requirement of the application and the value that product carries. For example, mobile covers are made with flexible plastics and come in a wide variety of colors so as to allow people to give a stylistic appeal to their handsets. So, these Masterbatches are of great use as we humans survive on plastics and it is difficult to find any object in the world without plastic.

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Why you should choose one of the best masterbatch manufacturers?

Are you in plastic products manufacturing industry and looking for various ways to add strength and quality to your products? If yes, Masterbatches can be of huge value as they tend to add color to plastic products. Alike any other industry, plastic manufacturing industry is currently adopting newer techniques and methodologies to deliver high quality products. The foremost reason behind its high usage is its durability and affordability. 

Due to the rising demand for enhanced durability, the demand for new chemicals and manufacturing processes has raised. In such cases, Masterbatch Manufacturers emerge out as the best option to add color and durability to plastic products. Masterbatches are manufactured in a resin through heating process, once it cools down; it is cut into small shapes of grains. Different Masterbatches perform different function. For example: A Flame Retardant masterbatch is used to improve the incombustible property of plastic.

With the rising demand of Masterbatches, there has been an increase in the number of masterbatch suppliers all across the world. If you’re serious about making high quality products, you should look for renowned and experience manufacturers that are known for providing high quality Masterbatches. Over a period of times, a large number of manufacturers have come up with next generation products that ensure precision and superb quality.

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