MUTTENZ, SWITZERLAND (May 15, 12:30 p.m. ET) — Clariant Masterbatches has designed new liquid vehicle technology (LVT) that it claims is ideal for monolayer extrusion blow molding of polyolefins.
Raymond Sloan, head of liquid color at Clariant Masterbatches North America, said in a news release that extrusion blow molders often favor liquid masterbatches over solid concentrates.
“However, until now, use of liquid color has been limited in blow molding of polyolefin resins because many liquid-based carrier systems [including mineral oil] would not incorporate well with the resins,” he said. “It was pigment friendly but not resin friendly.”
The new masterbatches use a liquid vehicle system that incorporates suspension aids. It allows for higher pigment loadings and lower usage rates.
Clariant says benefits include improved weld-line strength, better processing characteristics and faster color changes.