Developments In Colorants For Plastics

At a time when it is critical to many plastics processors to add value to products, colorants are an essential part of the additives repertoire. Plastics are often processed at very high temperatures and shear, and products are exposed to heat and light. Colorants must tolerate these conditions to function adequately. This Rapra Review Report provides practical information for plastics processors with regard to colorant selection and the range of products and effects available. The review is accompanied by around 400 abstracts from the Rapra Polymer Library database, to facilitate further reading on this subject.

The papers in this anthology were presented during seven ANTEC and RETEC symposia between 1995 and 1998, and chronicle many of the advances in the plastics coloring technology field during that time span. The unifying theme of the papers is ""creating more value."" The interactivity of the package design process has continued to demand advances in coloring technology, and the value of being able to exploit product appearance is glaringly apparent. Another way to create value is by being responsive through ""Speed to Market."" Manufacturers and suppliers have to respond to the demand of their consumers, yet fabricators cannot be ignored in their desire for first run acceptance of color. All these issues and many others are discussed within this authoritative overview of coloring technology.

Additives for Plastics, Volume 2, New Developments contains papers presented at the Symposium on Additives for Plastics, sponsored by the Organic Coatings and Plastics Division, American Chemical Society, and held in Anaheim, California, spring 1978. The volume opens with a chapter on developments in fillers for plastics. This is followed by separate chapters on the principles of micro packing; commercially available glass fillers; the use of precipitated silicas in ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers to provide a versatile class of materials for many applications; and advancements in plasticizers. Subsequent chapters deal with the effect of additives on the viscosity of filled resin; the successful application of titanate coupling agents in thermoplastics; electrical, thermal, solvent and anti-fungal properties of organotin-containing poly (ethyleneimine); and additives for stabilizing polymer systems. The final two chapters discuss the ultraviolet stabilization of high-impact polystyrene and the various types of colorants for plastics, respectively.

The plastics industry is a major player for consumer items, notably for the automotive, consumer electronics and packaging industries, and is necessarily very active in innovation. As a result, moulded thermoplastics are achieving new heights in decorative appearance and quality. Many striking aesthetic effects are possible by employing new polymer blends coupled with a diverse range of decoration and surface treatment technologies. These can produce three-dimensional and tactile finishes, high definition images, flawless high gloss and metallic surfaces, as well as effects ranging from imitation materials, interferential colours, colour gradients, colour change and travel, gloss and matte combinations, and even acoustic or olfactory effects. Manufacturing processes to achieve these include several types of in-mould film, coating or decorating technique, relatively recent technologies to improve surface quality, as well as traditional separate decorating or coating processes such as dry offset; flexographic; inkjet; pad and screen printing; foil transfer; labelling; laser marking; plating; spray coating; and vacuum deposition. This unique book analyses and compares recent trends in each of over 20 types of mainstream manufacturing process and 10 classes of sensory effect they can produce. Supported by over 100 tables, a 3-year sampling of over 1,000 mentioned patent documents and hundreds of commercial developments helps to identify the main trends and their innovators, key innovative clusters and the most sought-after effects, as well as provide indications for the future.

Color Trends and Selection for Product Design: Every Color Sells a Story speaks to the needs of the manufacturing level where colorants are developed, helping manufacturers to understand where their colors will sell and for what period of time these products will be viable. It covers issues such as stability, color measurement, and new methods of incorporation, which are critical in the development of new colorants. The book helps product designers more effectively reach their target audiences by helping them understand more about how colors are chosen for particular markets and how certain colors will perform in designs, including how to evaluate color under different lighting conditions and in, or on, different materials. Knowing how colors will perform in each material and how they will be seen on a store shelf or show room floor is vital. The book gives an important insight into future trends, including new design methods for creating color prototypes and regulatory requirements. The color designer needs to better understand the world of the color formulator, and the formulator conversely needs to understand the needs of the designer, so this book is written for both. Provides an expert assessment of future trends in color, helping color manufacturers to understand how their customers and brand owners select colors Covers the critical issues of stability, color measurement, and new methods of incorporation, helping engineers evaluate color performance in different designs, materials, and lighting conditions Helps readers stay ahead of the competition with discussions of important regulations and trends in ‘green’ colors and product design

The successful coloring of plastic parts, beginning with the formulation of the color preparation and ending with the manufacture of the final product, is the result of the interaction of chemical, physical, and technological factors. In-depth knowledge of these factors and their interrelation and the consideration of national and international regulations are prerequisite for anyone working in this field. This book describes the various aspects of coloring plastics. The reader is enabled to identify the color preparation that meets given product requirements. Only if color preparation, polymer material, and final product design and requirements are well coordinated will the customer be pleased with the colored plastic product. Contents: - Methods for Coloring of Plastics - Requirements for Color Preparations - Composition of Color Preparations - Colorants and Additives - Processing Errors and Troubleshooting - Quality Assurance - National/International Regulations

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) have the elastic behaviour of rubber and the processability of thermoplastics. The Freedonia Group has forecast that demand will expand by 6.4% per year to around 2.15 million tons in 2006. There is potential for these new, exciting materials to expand into the much larger thermoset rubber markets. This review includes comparisons between the two material types. There are three major types of TPE: block copolymers, rubber/plastic blends and dynamically vulcanised rubber/plastic alloys known as thermoplastic vulcanisates. The chemistry of these materials and how.

This review sets out to describe the types of flame retardants available for compounding into plastics materials, mechanisms of action and uses. This review provides a clear overview of the state-of-the-art of flame retardancy for plastics. It highlights the new developments and the potential problems with legislation, together with the benefits to end users of protection from fire hazards. This review is accompanied by around 400 abstracts from papers and books in the Rapra Polymer Library.