Did you ever wonder how plastic parts get their color? At Selmax Corporation, we specialize in precise color matches to ensure that all parts produced are the right color. We work with some of the most experienced colorant suppliers in the country to achieve the best results every time.
The Color Matching Process
To pinpoint the desired color for each plastic product or part, a color matching process must be completed which allows engineers to develop a specific color concentrate for a particular material and application. We can typically match a color from a chip, plaque, or Pantone color number.
There are a variety of things that must be considered for each polymer being colored, including viscosity and melt temperatures. Our color houses can match colors in any polymer system, including ABS, nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, PVC, and acrylics, just to name a few.
We use advanced spectrophotometer technology to measure and formulate colors. These formulations are stored electronically in our color matching system. We also store the physical chips produced during the color matching process.
The Production Process
Successful plastic coloring depends upon close attention to the smallest details and adherence to unique requirements. A knowledge of end-use application and the material of the end product are a good starting point for formulating the perfect part with long-lasting color. However, there are many variables that must be considered with each project.
Plastics are colored using various coloring systems and each one offers its own unique properties, benefits, and drawbacks. Masterbatches, “salt and pepper” blending, liquid color, and pre-colored resins are four of the most common coloring techniques.
To color the injection-molded products we make at Selmax Corporation, we purchase “natural” polymers, such as ABS, Nylon, or Polypropylene in pellet form. We then mix color concentrates using a precision gravimetric blending unit to dispense the precise amount of colorant needed immediately before the part is molded. During production we use advanced spectrophotometer technology to ensure the final plastic product is the exact right color.
Learn More
Selmax Corporation is a full-service plastic injection molder. We pride ourselves on providing injection molding solutions, not just parts. We’ve been successfully helping our clients manufacture the perfect plastic part since 1971. If you have a project that has meticulous color requirements, we’d love to talk to you. Send us an RFQ, call (570.374.2833), or reach out via email at info@selmax.com.