Solutions for improved optical appearance

Excellent coloration achieved through pigment masterbatch formulations using high performance dispersing additives contribute to a better optical appearance and thus add value to the final plastic products.
Pigment masterbatches offer accurate metering and easy handling of the pigment concentration. A homogeneous distribution of pigment particles in the polymer is essential to achieve excellent coloration.
TEGOMER^® dispersing additives lead to an optimized distribution of pigment particles in plastics an thus improve the overall performance of the formulation.

The composition of these additives follows the concept of amphiphilic copolymers (Fig.1); hydrophilic and organophilic side groups are attached on a polymeric backbone. The hydrophilic part is responsible for the interaction with the polar surface of the pigment while the organophilic moieties provide good compatibility with the thermoplastic matrix.
Dispersing additives reduce the interaction between pigment surfaces, suppressing the formation of agglomerates and aggregates. After the coating the pigment is permanently stabilized and interactions leading to reagglomeration are minimized.
Microscopic evaluation of a blown film shows the excellent dispersion properties of the amphiphilic copolymer (Fig. 2) for a Green 7 masterbatch. The number of non-dispersed pigment agglomerates visible as specks is significantly reduced.

Summary

Numerous parameters on the processing and on the components side influence the quality pigment masterbatch properties. By choosing the right approach, higher quality is not inevitably a matter of higher costs for the producer. TEGOMER^® dispersing additives provide best solutions to meet both quality and cost requirement