Beginner’s Guide to Using Fluorescent Pigments in Color Masterbatch | Wanlong

  1. In the modern plastics industry, color impacts people's first impressions, whether in everyday stationery, electronic product casings, automotive interiors, or household items. When fluorescent pigments are combined with masterbatches in various color production processes, they create a brighter, more vibrant visual effect, making plastic products stand out from the crowd. This article will introduce you to fluorescent pigments and masterbatches.

Color Masterbatch

  1. 1. What is a Masterbatch?
  2. Masterbatch can be considered a "color concentrate." It consists of a pigment or dye, a carrier resin, and a dispersant, formed into granules through a specialized process. During plastic production, simply mixing the masterbatch with the base plastic quickly achieves the desired color.
    Compared to directly adding pigments, masterbatches offer the following advantages:
    More uniform dispersion: Avoids color inconsistencies.
    More convenient: The granular form facilitates storage and metering.
    Environmentally friendly and clean: Reduces dust and improves the production environment.
    More stable performance: Maintains color consistency and repeatability throughout the production process.

  3. 2. Characteristics of Fluorescent Pigments
  4. Fluorescent pigments are a special type of organic pigment. Their most notable feature is their ability to absorb light and convert it into brighter visible light, resulting in vibrant colors. Compared to ordinary pigments, the colors of fluorescent pigments are more easily discerned by the human eye and are more eye-catching.
    The main characteristics of fluorescent pigments include:
    High brightness: They are more visible than ordinary pigments, especially in low light or from a distance.
    Vivid colors: They offer a wide color gamut, producing a unique fluorescent effect.
    Flexible applications: They can be used in various applications, including plastics, coatings, inks, and textiles.
    Common colors of this type of pigment include fluorescent yellow, fluorescent green, fluorescent orange, and fluorescent powder. For example, fluorescent pigments are often used in highlighters and bright stripes on sportswear.
  5. 3. How to Choose the Right Fluorescent Pigment for Masterbatch
    Consider the following aspects when choosing fluorescent pigments:
    Heat resistance:
    Plastics are exposed to high temperatures during processing, and fluorescent pigments vary in their heat resistance. Insufficient heat resistance may result in darkening or distortion of the color. Compatibility:
    Different plastic substrates require matching pigments. For example, the processing requirements for PP, PE, and PVC vary. Choosing fluorescent pigments that are compatible with the substrate ensures uniform dispersion and avoids spotting or settling.
    Lightfastness:
    Fluorescent pigments tend to fade easily under sunlight, so for outdoor products, it's important to choose fluorescent pigments with strong lightfastness.
    Environmental Standards:
    With increasingly stringent environmental regulations, it's increasingly important to choose fluorescent pigments that meet international standards. For example, products that are free of heavy metals, formaldehyde, and other hazardous substances are more popular.
  6. 4. Typical Applications of Fluorescent Masterbatches
    Fluorescent masterbatches have a wide range of applications. Here are a few typical examples:
    Toy Industry: Many children's toys and school supplies use fluorescent masterbatches to make them more vibrant and appealing.
    Packaging: They are used in beverage bottle caps, food packaging, and cosmetic containers.
    Automotive and Transportation: Fluorescent masterbatches are often used in automotive interiors, reflective devices, and road signs to enhance safety.
    Sports and Fashion: Sporting goods, apparel, accessories, and trendy items utilize fluorescent effects to create a unique style. 
    Industrial Uses: Fluorescent masterbatches not only enhance the aesthetics of wires and cables, pipes, tool handles, and other materials but also provide identification and warning functions.
  7. 5. Steps for Adding Fluorescent Pigments to Masterbatches
    Choosing the Right Carrier Resin: The carrier resin of the masterbatch must be compatible with the plastic substrate to which it will be applied. PE and PP resins are often used as carriers when making PE and PP plastics. When making PVC or ABS plastics, the corresponding carrier should be selected. This ensures that the fluorescent pigment is evenly dispersed during use, preventing "mottling."
    Adding a Dispersant: Fluorescent pigment particles tend to agglomerate easily, and if not dispersed properly, they will form lumps. Dispersants help evenly distribute the pigment throughout the resin.
    High-Speed ??Mixing: The fluorescent pigment, carrier resin, and dispersant are mixed in a high-speed mixer to ensure thorough contact.
    Twin-Screw Extrusion: The mixed materials enter a twin-screw extruder. Under high temperature and high shear, the fluorescent pigment is dispersed into the resin and formed into strips.
    Cooling and pelletizing: The extruded plastic strips are cooled in a cooling water trough and then cut into small pellets, called fluorescent masterbatch.

    Where can you buy Fluorescent pigments in bulk?

    Fluorescent pigments emit bright, visible light under ultraviolet or other light sources and are widely used in various applications, including fluorescent coatings, stationery, textiles, plastics, advertising signage, and electronic displays. As a professional Daylight fluorescent pigment ingredients.  supplier and manufacturer, Wanlong Chemical Co., LTD. has nearly 10 years of experience in supplying and exporting fluorescent pigment ingredients from China. You can confidently purchase fluorescent powder from Wanlong Chemical Co., LTD. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us and we will get back to you within 1 business day.

    If you have needs please contact us.

    Established in 1989, Wanlong Chemical Co., LTD. has been focusing on polymer synthesis and fine chemical intermediates research and development and production for nearly 40 years, and has developed three business systems - polymer materials, organic dyes and chemical intermediates, including Fluorescent pigment powder. We offer wholesale prices for bulk purchases, even for small quantities, and offer a free sample to potential customers. If you have needs please contact us.

     


Post time: 2025-09-02 16:49:44