New pigment chemistry

For use in plastics, the preferred system is masterbatch or compound, as the pigment is a very hard substance with needle-Iike particles that are difficult to incorporate directly into a resin. For masterbatch, the processing temperature should be about 10°C higher than normal and the recommended machine configuration is one with a distributive screw design and twin hoppers, using the first to feed in resin and additives and the second to dose the pigment into the melt. 

European consumption of pigments and colorants is estimated (by Rapra Technology) at about 728 ()()() tonnes in 1997, rising to nearly 900 000 tonnes in 2002. An estimate by BCC values the market at nearly US 1.4 billion. 

Production of colour compound is estimated at 1.5 million tonnes in Europe, mainly for cable and pipe grades and engineering resins. Demand is likely to slow down, in preference to coloured masterbatch. Pigmented masterbatches are used to modify an estimated 53% of polymers processed (and 45% of all performance additives used in Europe are incorporated via masterbatch). Compounder Ampacet estimates that worldwide consumption of masterbatch will reach 2.15 million tonnes in 2001. Film, blow moulding, and injection moulding make up about 70% of consumption. There are around 200 producers of colour masterbatch, the leaders being Cabot, Schulmann. Ampacet, and Ferro. 

Intertech estimates the world market for high-performance pigments at over 550 000 tonnes a year, and showing an annual growth rate of 5-7%. The main segments of the market are inks and paints (55%) and plastics (35%), with other applications sharing the remaining 10%. 

Modifying Specific Properties Appearance - Black and White 

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