January 23, 2025 – Exploring the Nuances of Color Masterbatches: Why Specialized Options Often Outshine Universal Ones
In the realm of chemical industry coloring, universal color masterbatches have garnered immense popularity due to their convenience and economic usage, requiring just 1% to deliver noticeable results. However, from the perspective of masterbatch manufacturers, the high heat resistance and broad applicability of pigments used in universal masterbatches mean their application in LDPE resins with lower temperature resistance requirements constitutes a waste of resources.
When it comes to transportation, storage, and usage, the differences between specialized and universal color masterbatches are stark. Typically, specialized masterbatches have a ratio of 1:25, while universal ones can reach up to 1:100. This implies that 1 gram of universal masterbatch provides the same coloring effect as 4 kilograms of specialized masterbatch. This not only saves on freight costs but also significantly enhances ease of use. For small and medium-sized enterprises dealing with diverse resin types and frequent resin changes during production, universal masterbatches alleviate transportation and inventory pressures, making production more flexible and efficient.
Nevertheless, according to the Color Masterbatch Industry Network, the degree to which different plastics “absorb color” during the coloring process varies widely. The same addition amount can yield vastly different coloring effects in different resins, sometimes with significant discrepancies. Furthermore, due to the small addition amounts, the dispersion of the color masterbatch may be relatively poor, leading to issues such as patterns, color spots, and speckles on the surface of plastic products. In severe cases, differences in plastic types can even cause brittleness. This is particularly crucial for large, thin-walled, and complexly shaped parts, where the choice of color masterbatch requires careful consideration.
It’s worth noting that while universal color masterbatches offer broad applicability and their carrier resin’s incompatibility with the resin to be colored is negligible, this doesn’t mean one can be complacent. A slight oversight can still lead to problems. Therefore, when considering both coloring effects and product performance, specialized color masterbatches are often superior to universal ones. We recommend that users opt for specialized color masterbatches once they’ve determined the type of resin to be colored, to ensure optimal coloring effects and product performance.