Plastics
Plastics come in a variety of forms and both thermoset and thermoplastic types, formed in a wide-variety of ways can be pigmented with fluorescent pigments to give a brilliant effect.
Fluorescent colours are much brighter than conventional non-fluorescent colours and often only low loading are required to achieve a bright fluorescent effect. The final colour and opacity is dependent upon the characteristics of the polymer as well as the loading and type of fluorescent pigment and the use of any opacifying pigment.
Polymers with minimal opacity such as polyethylene and polypropylene will achieve the optimum effect whilst the use of crystal polystyrene also gives a transparent effect and excellent edge-glow.
As fluorescent pigments are in themselves translucent some plastics applications may benefit from the use of a small addition of titanium dioxide to provide some opacity. Though this will give a pastel effect the colours achieved with daylight fluorescent pigments are still much brighter than can be achieved conventionally.
Thermoplastic polymers are coloured most readily by the use of a melt-in thermoplastic grade whilst thermoset applications, depending on processing temperature will find a thermoset pigment more effective. Daylight fluorescent pigments can be included directly or through the medium of a masterbatch formulation.
935 Series offers excellent temperature resistance up to 240°C and is recommended for masterbatch, mouldings & extrusions and thermoplastic powder coatings. It can also be used for blow mouldings and liquid colorants.
940 Series exhibits negligable, if any, plate-out giving improved processing and cost efficiency, it also has excellent temperature resistance up to 280°C. 940 Series is recommended for masterbatch and extrusions where long run times or high temperatures are a requirement, it can be used in rotational moulding.
940-V Series shares the same processing benefits with 940 Seies and can also be compliant with food contact applications (see product details).
GML Series can be used in most thermoset applications and to eliminate plate-out in some injection moulding systems if required. GML Series pigment contains low levels of formaldehyde and is therefore not suitable for all situations.