Precolored compounds

A property of great importance in applications for various carbon blacks in plastics, impact strength will be illustrated with ABS. The physical properties of ABS compounds are extremely sensitive to both quality of dispersion and aging. In this case, as indicated by Figure 11.11, precolored compounds show unproved dispersion over salt and pepper blends mixed in the holding machine. Better dispersion yields better impact retention. 

Precolored Compounds Polymers that contain colorant and additives and are ready to mold or extrude without further processing. Precolored compounds can be in a pellet or dry powder form. 

Compound the colorants and additives directly into the polymer to make a precolored compound. 

Precolor compound is material containing colorant throughout and ready to mold as is. 

Precolored compounds are delivered ready for final processing. Prior to delivery to the extruder, they have been mixed to the final ratio of polymer to colorant. This is the easiest form in which to color polymer because it requires no additional materials or hardware other than what is typical for single-material extrusion. Additionally, the imiformity of color is usually excellent as a result of the compounding process. However, this form is generally expensive because another processor performs the compounding work. 

Color concentrates are usually pellets that contain a high percentage of colorant in a compatible polymer carrier. These pellets are then let down into the base polymer in a proportion that will provide the correct final concentration of colorant to the system. Color concentrate pellets are often let down at approximately 4% of the final system and require only minimal effort and hardware beyond using precolored compounds. If the main concern is adequate mixing in the extruder, this is one of the most popular forms for coloring plastics. 

Colored Compound. Processors can huy the plastic compound already precolored. This is commonly done with specialty plastics. It is expensive and leaves the processor with inventory prohlems. 

After completion of tufting, the unfinished tufted carpet will be dyed, if precolored yams are not used, followed by a finishing step to add a compound and usually a secondary backing material. 

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