Black masterbatch is one of the most common plastic choices in many applications. Let’s explore its features, benefits, and applications right now!
Black masterbatch is ranked the world’s second-largest consumed color masterbatch. It offers many outstanding properties suitable for applications in many industries and, especially for large-scale productions.
The material not only helps manufacturers achieve aesthetic desires but also obtains the technical competence to meet the requirements of the final items.
There is much more to know about this masterbatch. Follow along!
1. What is Black Masterbatch?
Black masterbatch is an inevitable material used to create a black color for plastic products. You can see its applications in various fields, such as the industrial, automotive, and construction sectors. Besides, it’s widely used in multiple types of rubber products and plastic packaging, sealants, colorants, and adhesives.
Black masterbatch is a combination of black carbon pigment, virgin resin, and certain additives that allow the material to be adjusted according to the requirements of production. Besides providing a clean black look for the final products, the black carbon powder and the corresponding plastic substrate inside the black masterbatch can also maintain color, shield light, UV rays, and antioxidant products.
2. Key Features of Black Masterbatch
Here are highlighted properties of black masterbatch:
- Strong coloring properties: The material provides final products with deep black pigmentation, enhancing the aesthetic appearance.
- Good dispersion: For large-scale production, consistent, uniform color distribution is crucial. Black masterbatch’s dispersion is the most useful property for helping manufacturers achieve this goal.
- Enhanced durability: The UV protection and stabilizing properties of carbon black can protect plastic products from UV degradation and cracking.
- Easy to process: Black masterbatch is ideal for high-volume plastic production processes since it’s easy to handle and incorporate into the polymer matrix.
3. How Is Black Masterbatch Produced?
The masterbatch production process consists of 6 steps:
- Step 1: Add black carbon powder, base resin, and other additives based on the desired formula.
- Step 2: Mix with a mixer at high speed for 10 minutes.
- Step 3: The mixtures will go through an extruder and be poured into a sheet.
- Step 4: After it cools down, it will be passed through a cutter to cut into small particles.
- Step 5: Here, the finished masterbatch will be mixed with primary plastic resin and additives.
- Step 6: Depending on the product shape requirements, the mixture will go through different processing technologies. It can be injection molding, extrusion, or blowing film.
4. Benefits of Using Black Masterbatch
The first and foremost benefit of black masterbatch is the great dispersion. It allows users to fasten the product coloring process since it contains the resin used in the end products; thus, the masterbatch disperses uniformly on the final item’s surface.
Manufacturers can easily combine the black color masterbatch with other additives to enhance the item’s functionality, such as abrasion and UV resistance. As a result, the final products can improve their overall mechanical properties. Thus, black masterbatch is appropriate for outdoor uses in things like construction materials, outdoor furniture, and automobile parts.
In addition, utilizing black masterbatch in the manufacturing process can be more economical than using pre-colored resins or compounds. It lowers waste and total production costs by enabling more flexibility in inventory management and production planning.
Besides, the material is versatile and can be used in many industries, such as automotive design, electronics, packaging, and construction. As for aesthetic benefit, black color goes well with a variety of design styles since it is a classic and adaptable color. Black masterbatch provides an easy-to-use yet efficient way to generate desired visual effects in plastic items, which is in line with industries’ need for sleek and contemporary designs.
5. Applications of Black Masterbatch
Black masterbatch is an ideal option in many industries, including:
- Automotive industries
It’s the largest industry in which masterbatch is applied. The material is ideal to reduce weight and decrease the production cost of automotive items.
In general, the black color masterbatch is added to the engineering compounds to boast an appealing look of the final products. It’s usually tailor-made and used to produce exterior auto parts such as car body, tires, bumper, window sealing profiles, body side protection strips, and headlamp lenses.
In addition, the combination prevents the end products from degradation and extends their lifespan.
- Electronic applications
Mixers, blenders, and washing machines are some of the electronic applications requiring the black masterbatch.
- Pipes
You can see the black masterbatch is used in many extruded applications such as pipes, deck railings, fencing, tubings, etc. It not only gives the final items an appealing appearance but also creates a protective layer to protect the surfaces from deterioration due to the chemicals’ impact. Besides, it’s helpful in improving the products’ impact strength and wear resistance.
- Construction
Some of the main applications in this field include cables, wires, corrugated tubes, profiles and fittings, etc.
- Agriculture
The black color masterbatch is said to be useful for irrigation pipes and agricultural tarpaulins.
- Geomembrane industry
Nowadays, many geomembrane manufacturers prefer to combine color masterbatches and virgin resin instead of using traditional pre-colored compounds. It plays an important role in optimizing the membrane’s UV and thermal resistance ability.
- Packaging films
One of the most popular applications of black masterbatch is packaging films, including shopping bags, trash bags, etc. Since it’s in granular form, it can disperse evenly on the surfaces of the final products. Plus, the formula can be adjusted to meet the manufacturer’s requirements.
6. How to Choose the Right Black Masterbatch
Manufacturers should consider the following factors to pick the right choice of black masterbatch:
- Application requirements
Firstly, manufacturers should identify the polymer type that they are processing. Note that certain polymers, such as PP, PE, PET, and ABS, are compatible with black masterbatches.
Secondly, determine whether you need the material for indoor or outdoor applications. For example, UV-stabilized masterbatch is usually appropriate for outdoor use.
Regulatory food requirements are the next thing to consider. Manufacturers need an option that complies with relevant regulations when producing food-contact products or medical equipment.
- Type and content of carbon black
The second important factor to consider is the carbon black grade. Depending on the grades, the dispersion and gloss levels will be different. For example, if you need a deep, rich black color, go for High Jetness (High Tint). Yet, general-purpose grades are a more affordable option with lower performance.
Besides, the carbon black loading level defines opacity. 15–50% is considered high level with greater opacity. Yet, it may cost more and be harder to process.
- Dispersion quality
You should use a black masterbatch with great dispersion for applications that demand aesthetics and surface quality to avoid streaks or poor color consistency. Furthermore, you may need a masterbatch with filler content (for example, calcium carbonate) for better mechanical strength and gloss.
- Processing conditions
Your option should be suitable for high-temperature processes like extrusion or injection molding. Otherwise, it will be degraded under heat. Thus, check the information carefully with your supplier.
- Cost
Take into account the masterbatch’s performance properties, such as increased UV stability, and determine the necessary dilution ratio to minimize misuse and increased expenses. You’d better optimize based on the value it provides to your product.
7. FAQs about Black Masterbatch
- What are the differences between black masterbatch and traditional pigments?
Traditional pigments refer to the powder form of colored substances. Meanwhile, black masterbatch combines pigments, plastic resins, and additives. Because color masterbatch contains resin that has previously been used in final products, it disperses more uniformly across the surface of the product than pigments do, increasing the color fastness of the final product.
- Is it safe to use black masterbatch in food contact applications?
Black masterbatch is a safe plastic formed by formulations containing safe human-grade pigments. It’s non-toxic and does not harm the user and the environment.
8. Conclusion
Black masterbatch provides a versatile and effective coloring ingredient for plastic products. It’s an essential material for manufacturers to stay on trend and satisfy consumers’ high aesthetic standards.
