Colorants application criteria

Classification by particle size is helpful in classification since particle size will affect performance but, by itself, falls short as a criterion when selecting fillers for applications which require certain levels of conductivity (thermal or electric) or of chemical interaction, etc. In one publication, materials were divided into particulates, fibers, and colorants. These distinctions are not helpful for a material designer. For a classification to be useful in filler applications, it must include the most important properties of fillers which affect the resultant material. The eight most important are as follows ... 

In general, SMPFs have a good memory of strain or shape, but a poor memory of stress or load. It is expected that, if other properties such as conductivity, color, density, etc., were used to evaluate the memory capability of SMPs, different recovery ratios would be obtained. Therefore, the memory capability depends on the parameter or criterion used. Although the current dominant criterion used to evaluate memory capability is the shape or strain recovery ratio, it is expected that other indicators such as the stress recovery ratio would be more and more used because SMPs will find new applications in various areas. Most importantly, we need to better understand the underlying physics for each parameter because different parameters may not be related linearly or proportionally. It is expected that this opens... 

Carbon black is used as a stabilizer in a limited number of formulations where color is not a criterion. It not only absorbs light, but it can also react with free-radical species that might be formed. The weathering properties of polyethylene are improved by the incorporation of carbon blacks (at 2%-3% concentration). Weather-resistant wire and cable insulation, pipe for outdoor applications, films for mulching, and water conservation in ponds and canals may be made from polyethylene containing carbon black. 

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