UV Masterbatches- Uses and Benefits

I am a chemical engineering student studying plastics and its color imparting component called masterbatches. Now plastic is everywhere around us but we have never thought how much sophistication and precision is involved in making masterbatches. For a clearer understanding of Ultra Violet masterbatches, my college sent me and a group of

four students to a masterbatch manufacturing company to see how UV masterbatches are made and what are their benefits.

UV masterbatch find their use in food grade applications, agriculture films, auto plastic applications, synthetic fibres like PP, PET and Nylon. They are considered superior in quality for food grade applications as they prevent loss of moisture, taste and color of food when they are exposed to sunlight. Their main advantages are their low volatility, extraction resistance, excellent performance alone as well as in combination with other stabilizers. They provide a longer service life.

The demand for UV masterbatches is high and growing. Companies like RP industries www.RPIndustries.net are in the top race to manufacture highest quality UV masterbatches.

It was really interesting studying plastics. It fetched me the highest grade in entire college. So much so that I am thinking of making a career out of them. If you have any comments or want to share your knowledge, pls do write. I would welcome your feedback.

Factors Affecting Formulation of Masterbatches

Hi friends. I hope you rememberme. Last time I wrote about plastic industry and masterbatches. This time I am going to throw some light on formation of masterbatches.

Frankly, unless you see for yourself the  manufacturing process of masterbatches, it is hard to imagine just how much of technology and hard work goes into getting the formulations right. We, most often don’t give a second thought to the packaging, marveling at the most at the attractive colors and designs that make give the product a hard-to-resist “pick-me-up-please” kind of look.

It took me a visit to RP industries a Delhi based masterbatch manufacturers & exporters, to open my eyes wide to the various factors affecting different aspects of formulation. A gist of whatever I learnt over there is here for you:

Formulations vary depending on whether a supplier is designing a new masterbatch or copying someone else’s. It is considered best to be involved at the color conception stage where it’s possible to optimize formulation choice. Their difference also depends upon whether they are manually designed or computer generated.

Depending on the formulations, the cost of masterbatches also differs. Sometimes formulations over specify performance, and thus become more expensive. Contrarily, they can generate borderline performance to minimize cost. Buying power, production costs and general operating costs, formulations, opacity and pigment loadings are other factors affecting the cost of masterbatches.

There are many factors which influence the performance of masterbatches such as processor machine type its size, capacity, screw-type. Some suppliers prefer to use extenders and some don’t. The ability of a color masterbatches to mix into the polymer varies depending upon its viscosity and flow.

Bulk density and specific gravity variations can occur if distinct base ingredients are used. This can cause further difference in the end result if gravimetric or volumetric dosers are used at the processor.

I was also made aware of the importance of asking customers before formulating about the specification, application and commercial parameters in order to craft a tailor-made masterbatch.

This is pretty much all I could understand, rest was some very technical blah blah. Hope, you guys can explain the procedures further in simpler language, so that novices like me can understand the whole process better.