What are masterbatches and their applications?
Masterbatch is a product that is used in plastic production in the form of pigments, organic or mineral powders along with other additives. As you know, today plastics and polymers play a key role in our lives. Industrial plastic containers, buckets and gallons and pots, household and kitchen appliances, parts used in the automotive industry, pipes and important connections, electrical cable covers and wires in electronic devices, etc., are all part of the use of this amazing material in today’s world. .
What is masterbatch?
A masterbatch is a mixture of three components: a polymer, additives, and auxiliary agents. Ethylene-vinyl acetate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, or other special polymers are often used as the base polymer of masterbatches. The base polymer used in the masterbatch has to be similar to the plastic used in injection molding. To improve polymer properties, additives are added, e.g., pigments, improvers, and fillers. Auxiliary agents improve the compatibility of additives. Masterbatches types include color masterbatches, additive masterbatches, and filler masterbatches.
What are color masterbatches?
Plastic products are colorless, and color masterbatches are used to manufacture colored plastic products. These masterbatches not only change the final colors of plastic products but also improve their properties. The components of a colored masterbatch include pigments, i.e., a stabilizing agent (dispersant), and a carrier polymer. Pigments have a higher portion than the polymer in a color masterbatch. Colored masterbatches are classified concerning the base polymer into ethylene-based and propylene-based groups.
To obtain diverse colors, different concentrations of color masterbatches, e.g., white and black masterbatches, can be employed. The components of a colored masterbatch should be compatible with the plastic.
Different Types of Masterbatches
- Anti-static
- Impact modifier
- Antioxidant
- Antibacterial
- Antimicrobial
- Biodegradable
- Cleaner
- Purging
- Compatibilizer
- Optical brightener
- Flame retardant
