 | Overview
Splash special effect concentrates are pigmented particles that break apart and smear when injection molded, sheet-extruded or blow molded to impart a dynamic, organic, textured visual appearance to plastic parts. Each concentrate needs to be specially engineered for each application. No two uses are alike, and no two parts will be identical.
Technology
Patent-pending polymer alloying and compatibilization techniques are utilized in developing customized colored pellets. These then break down into large discrete particles in the fabricator’s process during the melting and plasticization step. They have the advantage of being able to elongate to slip through runners, gates and dies without the threat of clogging associated with inorganic materials. The colored particles are high tensile strength, low elongation, high melting point materials with matched compatibility for a specified let-down resin.
Effects
Tortoise shell: three-dimensional streaks in multiple colors, including pearls and metallics in a tinted, transparent background.
Mosaic: large discrete particles with little feathering in multiple colors.
Smokey granite: small particles with noticeable smearing on the edges giving a softer look than a standard granite effect.
Graffiti: mixture of large and small particles in multiple colors to mimic the look of a crayon explosion.
Utilization
Splash concentrates can be added at the hopper of standard thermoplastic processing equipment. They can be used at levels from one to five percent depending on the coverage and effect desired. Different colored Splash pellets can be tumbled together for a random, multi-colored effect.
Splash concentrates are designed to be run at the same temperatures at which the base polymer resin would normally be processed. Machine parameters that will affect the size and shape of the Splash particle include back pressure, screw rpm, runner length and diameter, gate size and shape, injection pressure, screw compression ratio and check valve wear. Because of all the possible variables, it may take several iterations to achieve the desired look. Resin variables such as melt temperature, melt viscosity and crystallinity may severely restrict the types of effects that can be obtained with any given polymer.
If Splash concentrates applications are needed for direct food contact applications, please contact your local Clariant representative, as we can develop, upon request, Splash concentrates for certain polymers, that will be in compliance with food contact regulations.
Limitations
They are not appropriate for use in thin film applications because the large particles will leave noticeable surface defects. Applications that will require high elongations of the base material may not tolerate the addition of large, hard particles, and an alternative solution may need to be explored. |