Performance Polymers

Self-Coloring of BASF Plastics

Many BASF plastics can be self-colored easily and economically during processing. This leads to advantages for you in purchasing, production, logistics and marketing.

Self-Coloring Plastics

Even our most exacting customers value the benefits that self-coloring offers:

  • Reduced raw material costs because larger, more cost-effective amounts of uncolored product can be purchased
  • Increased production flexibility due to shorter color changeover times, especially with frequent changes of color
  • Clearly simplified material logistics because of smaller warehousing needs, centralized raw material stocks and raw material transport from bulk containers or silo

Ultradur® (PBT, PBT/ASA)

In general, the Ultradur® UL94 HB products (reinforced and unreinforced) are suitable for self-coloring. To achieve a perfect color result, we recommend using standard color master batches based on polybutylene terephthalate, which are offered by well-known batch manufacturers.

Color Batches for Ultradur®:

BASF Color Solutions

Ultraform® (POM Copolymer)

Self-coloring of Ultraform® by the processor has long been practiced with great success. In many cases self-coloring offers economic and logistical advantages without any compromises on quality. Investments for metering equipment and possibly also mixing elements often pay for themselves after only a few weeks due to the significant material cost advantages.

Ultramid® (Polyamides)

In principle self-coloring of the Ultramid® polyamides by the processor is possible. However, we advise against self-coloring of Ultramid® T (which is generally processed at temperatures above 310°C) due to the limited thermo stability of the coloring agents. The properties of parts made from self-colored granules, in particular homogeneity, impact resistance, flammability and shrinkage, must be carefully examined because they can be influenced to a high degree by the additives and the individual processing conditions.

In the case of three-zone screws, the homogeneity can be improved by raising the dynamic pressure. However, this measure simultaneously increases the dissipation and therefore the temperature load of the melt. The throughput may also fall. The mixing action of the three-zone screw is therefore limited, which means that screws with shearing and/or mixing sections may have to be used. Barrier screws are equipped as standard with shearing and/or mixing sections and are therefore suitable for self-coloring. When self-coloring is employed with glass fiber-reinforced grades, it is recommended to use types of steel that are especially protected against wear in view of the greater abrasive effect.

Ultramid® grades that are UL94-rated must adhere to the stipulations of UL 746D if the UL rating is to be retained. Color batches having special UL approval are needed for the self-coloring of Ultramid® grades bearing the classifications UL94 V-2, V-1 or V-0, whereas in the case of the classification UL 94 HB, the use of color batches bearing a generic UL-rating is sufficient.

If self-colored parts are used in the food sector, special regulations have to be observed.

Color Batches for Ultramid®:

BASF Color Solutions

Treffert Polymer-Technology

Ultrason® (PESU, PSU, PPSU)

Ultrason® E, S and P are supplied mainly as uncolored or black. But it is also possible to manufacture transparent or opaque colors using liquid colors or color master batches during the processing (self-coloring). It might be necessary to equip the processing machines with special screws, dosing units and/or mixing units. The easier and common way is the use of a color master batch. It has to be guaranteed that the coloring agents and pigments are suitable for the high processing temperatures of Ultrason® and that the master batch is based on the corresponding polymer.

Following Company Offers Suitable Color Master Batches:

Avient

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