Colloids
Colloids, the Makers of Masterbatch, will be exhibiting at Fakuma, Friedrichshafen, Germany in Hall B4 Stand 4402 and have announced technical advances in masterbatch for:
- PA – for both PA6 and PA66
- PET & CPET
- PBT & PC
- SAN for ABS & PC/ABS
- Nigrosine & carbon black
- Masterbatches to modify frictional properties
Colloids specialises in masterbatch for performance engineering, and reports growth across all sectors worldwide - especially automotive, packaging, electronics and construction.
Commercial highlights announced by Colloids for Fakuma span:
- Manufacturing growth worldwide including China where the new plant in Changshu City is ramping up – bringing production and response times even closer to customers in the region.
- The appointment of Erik Ramaker to the role of International Business Development Manager. Erik will be responsible for business growth throughout Germany, the Netherlands and the Benelux regions.
Josephine Bagnall, Sales & Marketing Director of Colloids commented: “Customers recognize the benefits of both technical excellence and proximity to market – each is key to delivering the best masterbatch on the right commercial terms on time.”
Technical Advances
PACE® BLACK.
The PACE® series covers a range of engineering polymer specific masterbatches designed especially for the advanced thermoplastics industry. It encompasses materials gaining ground in metal replacement such as PET, PBT and Polycarbonate. The range also includes unique products for polyamide applications and has been technically developed to ensure 100% end product reliability.
Colloids has enhanced its range of PET black masterbatches with a number of novel product introductions.
- PACE® PET 4778 is a traditional carbon black based masterbatch using raw materials which are compliant to the latest EU food contact regulations. It is based on a high jet carbon black and is designed for a variety of PET extrusion and moulding applications including CPET.
- PACE® PET 13721 is a new development of this product with the same effective pigmentation properties but it also has an additional nucleating capability for use specifically in CPET.
- A number of completely new black masterbatches have been introduced to the PACE® PET range using a novel pigmentation system which is not based on carbon black. Available in nucleating (PACE® BLACK 15018) and non-nucleating versions (PACE® BLACK 15017), these products offer effective colouration and superior gloss levels in sheet extrusion to those obtainable using carbon black products. They also improve the recyclability of PET waste. The segregation of PET waste streams is enhanced because the masterbatch is compatible with the infra-red detection systems used for sorting and identification.
PBT black masterbatches
Also new to Colloids PACE® range are carbon black and solvent black masterbatches based on PBT.
These are primarily aimed at the PBT compounding market where they bring the traditional advantages of such colourants, including high gloss, compatibility in glass filled systems and an ability to optimise the moulding behaviour, but with the benefit of full compatibility with the host polymer. In addition, the PACE® PBT products also show excellent compatibility in PET applications such as fibre and sheet extrusion.
Polycarbonate (PC) based black masterbatch
PACE® BLACK 4357 has been introduced by Colloids for application specifically in polycarbonate compounds, mouldings and extrusions. It uses a high strength, high jetness carbon black in a carrier system comprised entirely of PC with no additional lubricants or dispersion aids. The mechanical properties, particularly impact strength of PC compounds, are extremely sensitive to the presence of many alternative polymers and additives and PACE® BLACK 4357 is designed to minimise problems arising from this source.
M PC Black 16222 has been developed for laser welding applications. This masterbatch contains a special black colourant which is transparent to near IR radiation and thus allows black polycarbonate parts to be laser welded.
Masterbatch for ABS and PC/ABS
M SAN BLACK 10767 has been specifically designed for ABS and PC/ABS applications. Based on a high jet carbon black and a SAN carrier it provides excellent tint strength and compatibility in these resins and is suitable for a range of applications including high aesthetic mouldings.
M SAN BLACK 16091 has been introduced as an outstanding high dispersion grade. It is aimed at applications in ABS and ABS blends where the elimination of surface imperfections and retention of impact strength are critical.
The new product M SAN BLACK 16221 has been developed with a novel colouration system to provide super high gloss surface finish and excellent retention of impact strength in ABS and its blends.
New black masterbatches based on PA 66
Newly introduced to Colloids PACE® range is PACE® N54/1066. This product offers all the advantages of a 40% nigrosine masterbatch but is based on a PA66 carrier as opposed to the more traditional PA6 systems used historically in Europe.
The PA66 carrier optimises the compatibility of the masterbatch in PA66 applications, whilst maintaining the well-known benefits of solvent black 7 as a colourant for polyamide. These include high gloss, compatibility with the coupling agents used in glass filled systems, and an ability to optimise the moulding behaviour of polyamide compositions.
Colloids PACE® range of carbon black masterbatches has also been extended to include products based specifically on PA66 bringing the same compatibility benefits mentioned above.
Masterbatches to modify frictional properties
Colloids have recently introduced a new family of grades designed to modify and improve the frictional characteristics of polyamide engineering resins.
PACE® EL 4303 is at the forefront of this new range and is a predispersion of 40% molybdenum disulphide in polyamide 6.
Molybdenum disulphide is well known as a low friction and wear reducing additive in oil formulations but PACE® EL 4303 allows these benefits to be realised in solid polyamide compositions. While PACE® EL 4303 contributes to lower coefficients of friction in polymer compounds, its real benefit comes in reducing the level of abrasive wear experienced by a component.
Colloids also offer other products based on graphite benefits include reducing the coefficient of friction - PACE® N 54/13 and M PA Additive 11200.
