Masterbatch
for Plastic Injection Molding and Film Extrusion
Temperature Sensitive Color Changing Plastic Packaging
Because we capture CTI’s technology in microcapsules, we can not only put it into high-speed commercial printing inks – but also plastic resins for injection molding and extrusion. Masterbatch typically refers to colorants that are mixed into the main plastic resin at a small concentration, and CTI’s thermochromic, photochromic and glow-in-the-dark masterbatch may be used similarly. Note that the temperature sensitive color-changing technologies used to make this color-changing or glow-in-the-dark magic are sensitive, so heat, dwell time, and shear conditions are critical. Contact us for best practices.
Advantages:
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Use like other masterbatch colorants, mixing in a percentage of the total end-product weight
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Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is compatible with polyethylene and polypropylene; other resins such as High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) are also available for special order
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Long-term chemical stability
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Thermochromic and Photochromic colors are reversible
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Safe for indirect food contact
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BPA-, BPF-, BPS-free and compliant with REACH, Prop 65, CONEG, and many other regulations
Types of Masterbatch:
Cold-Activated Temperature: 8°C – 18°C. Color transitions from faint residual color or clear to vibrant full color at the target temperature (see color chart).
Warm- and Heat-Activated Temperature: 29°C and 40°C. Color transitions from full color to faint residual color at about 4-5°C below the target temperature.
Glow-in-the-Dark: Green and Aqua Blue phosphorescent. Charge in sunlight for five minutes or strong fluorescent lighting for 10 minutes for a long-lasting glow. Glow strength and duration depend on charging light source strength and length of charging, as well as the percentage of Glow-in-the-Dark masterbatch used in the final manufactured product.
Photochromic: Blue, Red, and Yellow. Photochromic masterbatch changes from colorless to color when exposed to 365 nanometer light, either in sunlight or blacklight (UVA). When removed from UVA light, the color will return to the residual (slight or no color, depending on the percentage used) state after several minutes.
ambient
too hot
Industries and Applications
Foods Laminated film food containers (indirect food contact)
Toys High-quality toys requiring excellent color change with temperature and light, or glow properties.
Industrial/Other Cold- or heat-sensitive, sunlight-activated consumer goods
Availability
Generally, CTI masterbatch is compounded into low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which is compatible with Polypropylene and Polyethylene. Custom compounding for polystyrene and other high-impact plastics may be available.
if you have a specific application you’d like to discuss.