Abstract

Colorants in plastic consumer and industrial products play a major role in their acceptance by the consumer. Color is what sells the product to the consumer. Industrially, color plays an important role in identifying parts, as an example. What a dull world it would be without color! Coloring a product correctly, however, is not an easy task. Years ago, the coloring of materials was a true art. Today, the art is still there, but science now plays a much greater role.

Colorants are generally classified into three distinct groups: organic pigments, inorganic pigments, and soluble dyes. These three major groups are available in a number different physical forms designed to maximize their effectiveness and efficiency of use. Each is quite different in how it brings color to a product and how they may affect other properties not visible, which could make a product more effective. Colorants and other additives for that matter can positively and/or negatively effect such properties as strength, impact resistance, electrical properties, opacity–transparency processing parameters, durability to heat, chemical attack and weathering if the product is destined for outdoor use.