JUST ADD LIQUID Quick guide to ColorMatrix liquid color for plastics and silicones THE RIGHT COLORANT FOR YOU Understanding which colorant technology best suits your particular product application will help ensure you gain maximum performance and value from your colorant processing. PolyOne is able to service customers globally with a full range of solid masterbatch and liquid colorant solutions to meet your product requirements. This ‘quick guide’ focuses specifically on ColorMatrix liquid colorant systems, providing a practical overview of factors to consider when selecting a colorant solution. Liquid colorant systems are increasingly used Whether you are using color for functional or aesthetic purposes, careful consideration of LIQUID COLOR throughout the world in an expanding range each of the following points will prove valuable in your color selection and implementation: VERSATILITY of polymers and product applications. • Is your color formulation and polymer fully compatible and optimized for your production process? POLYMERS PROCESSES COLOR TYPES* • How efficiently can you specify, trial and implement a new color? • PET • Injection Stretch • Tints • How stable, consistent and repeatable is your color processing? • Polyolefins Blow Molding (ISBM) • Translucents • How quickly can you change colors during processing? • PVC • Injection molding • Opaques • What level of technical support do you receive from your colorant supplier? • Extrusion Blow • Special effects Molding (EBM) • Does your colorant meet all the regulatory requirements of your intended market? • Additive additions • Extrusion (functional colors) Sheet, Fiber, Film Liquid color dispersions for Silicones are also available from PolyOne’s GSDI product range which specializes in silicone color. Further information can be found at polyone.com *available from PolyOne THE MAGIC OF LIQUID COLOR Liquid color is a uniform dispersion of color pigment or dye into a liquid carrier material. Typically additional products such as surfactants are also added to help stabilize the color formulation. However, not all liquid colorants are the same! To ensure you have a formulation that will perform to its maximum effect, your liquid colorant should: • maintain consistent particulate dispersion and remain fully stable during storage, dispensing and processing • be engineered to be fully compatible with your particular polymer and production process set-up • be fully supported with dispensing equipment and expert technical services PolyOne ColorMatrix has pioneered the development of liquid color dispersions since the 1970’s and is now considered the leading global innovator and supplier of liquid colorants for thermoplastic and silicone applications. See our Advanced Liquid Formulations video at polyone.com CHARACTERISTICS OF HOW LIQUID HELPS HIGH PERFORMANCE STABLE LIQUID FORMULATIONS Expertly formulated liquid color systems can deliver significant benefits and Under storage greater long-term value in use than alternative colorant systems for an ever • Remains stable expanding range of product applications and production processes. • Solid-like at low shear Main advantages of liquid color systems include: • No sedimentation • Excellent statistical distribution for consistently high quality products During dosing • Shot-to-shot and batch-to-batch consistency • Exceeds yield stress • Liquid-like behaviour • Single heat history • Flows easily • Minimal wastage due to high level dosing accuracy and product recovery rates After dispensing • Highly concentrated formulations with capability of very low addition rates • Self-levelling • Reduced inventory and storage requirements • Rebuilds its structure INTELLIGENT FORMULATION In addition, advances in liquid EXPAND YOUR COLOR SPECTRUM carrier vehicle systems mean that InVisiOSM is a series of support services for today liquid colorants can be highly INSPIRATION AND INSIGHT product designers and brand managers involved engineered to ensure compatibility When developing a brand new color, consulting in color decision making. ColorMatrix customers with an increasing range of polymer with your color provider early in the decision can access these valuable services which include: types. Importantly these advances process can prove invaluable in gaining insight • Inspirational color forecast and trend also now allow color to be combined into which formulation will be most effective and information with additional functional additives can open up new ideas and opportunities for new • Tailored market sector insights studies without impacting process stability. colors, color effects, polymer options or finishes that you may not be familiar with. • Operational and technical design and production trial support SM POLYMER/CARRIER COMPATIBILITY IN PET Process window is opened up allowing greater process capability 100 Carrier A: 90 ColorMatrix advanced carrier technology (current) 80 Carrier B: 70 Early-mid 2000s % light transmission 60 Carrier C: at 500 nm 50 Pre-2000s 40 30 20 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 % dose development time from weeks down to days. SELECT- For product manufacturers PolyOne ColorMatrix HELPING YOU ACCELERATED Select provides: WITH LIQUID • Instant on-line development of approved DESIGN colors with full visibility of multiple COLOR formulation and pricing options DEVELOPMENT There are many important technical • On-demand product delivery with virtually no factors to consider when implementing minimal order value or quantity requirement Selecting and approving new colors for full- new technologies into new or existing scale production can prove a lengthy process • Lean color management injection molding and extrusion particularly if regulatory approval and exacting For brand owners managing colors across processes. Just some of these factors color specifications are an important factor. multiple products, supplier sites and geographic include: Streamlining this process and being able to react locations, color management can be challenging • Tool design and costly. quickly and cost-effectively to market dynamics • Machine type can give that all-important competitive edge. PolyOne ColorMatrix Select provides: • Dryer requirements The PolyOne ColorMatrix™ Select online • Assurance of color consistency • Cooling capacities color management system can help reduce • More efficient color portfolio management • Raw material selection Understanding how to process all these combined variables to produce consistently high quality parts is core EASY COLOR DOSING to ColorMatrix’s Full Service Package approach and in helping our customers An advanced liquid formulation can provide an excellent, to meet their business goals. well dispersed and homogenized mix that will enhance the Our industry leading team of visual and technical characteristics of a finished product. Technical Service Engineers are However, if dosing is inconsistent or inaccurate these highly experienced process specialists benefits can be lost. dedicated to providing local on-site PolyOne’s proprietary metering systems are designed support for PolyOne customers around specifically to complement its liquid formulations. By the globe. Support services include: controlling the quality and technical capabilities of these • New product trial support systems, we can ensure dosing consistency and accuracy is fully optimized. For our customers this delivers enhanced • On-site product and equipment efficiency performance and significant reductions in waste training programs due to inconsistent overdosing. • Issue troubleshooting Some key questions to consider when implementing liquid • Best practice production process color: and maintenance reviews • Is your colorant addition negatively impacting or • Equipment selection guidance enhancing your process efficiency? • Process reporting • Is your dosing accuracy and product recovery optimized? • Inventory management support • How quickly can you implement color changes? • Equipment housekeeping • How consistent is your color over long production runs? • How clean is your color processing? • How much wastage do you have to account for? PolyOne’s latest range of ColorMatrix FlexCart™ dosing systems are ergonomically designed for easy, flexible use whatever your production environment. Product packaging is recyclable* with recovery rates of up to 99%. Reducing carbon footprint in the way that a colorant COLOR COMPLIANCE COLOR is formulated and processed has become an increasing priority for plastics processors. Liquid colorants are REGULATORY ADVICE AND DOCUMENTATION SUSTAINABILITY helping to minimize the environmental impact of There are extensive requirements governing PolyOne closely monitors all relevant legal coloring in a number of ways: polymer based products, from chemical developments and provides a comprehensive • Liquid carrier systems are typically made largely from legislation imposing requirements on the regulatory advice and documentation service natural oil-based renewable sources manufacture, marketing and use of the initial to support its portfolio of colorant, additive • Liquid systems can be dosed with the highest degree raw materials to compositional and good and equipment technologies. It also invests in of accuracy and control, minimizing wastage through manufacturing practice requirements for the both internal and external analytical services to overdosing finished materials. investigate impurity profiles of materials used to • ColorMatrix’s latest PLANETPAK delivery packs have Ensuring regulatory