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Understanding Colourants in Masterbatches
A Brief Guide to Colourants for Anyone Who Colours Polymers
When developing a new colour for a plastic product, the first things that come to mind are design, visual impact and function. As your masterbatch manufacturer, we take care of ensuring your requirements are met. Our expertise in selecting the right colourants is key to this process.
The Role and Function of Pigments in Masterbatches
Pigments are virtually insoluble colourants. They create colour by absorbing part of the incident light and reflecting or scattering the rest — and it is only from this that the visible colour impression is formed in the eye.
The word pigment derives from the Latin pigmentum, meaning painter's colour.
Pigment Families Relevant to Plastics
There are two main groups:
→ Organic pigments are based on carbon compounds. They deliver high brilliance and colour strength. However, their temperature and weather fastness varies depending on the pigment and must be carefully assessed. Organic pigments are typically regarded as more transparent.
→ Inorganic pigments are derived primarily from mineral raw materials. They offer significantly greater thermal stability and excellent weather fastness, but comparatively lower colour brilliance. They are typically regarded as opaque.
The most important white pigment is titanium dioxide, which is indispensable for achieving high opacity. For black, carbon blacks are predominant — though they should no longer be used in recyclable packaging and products, as they impair sortability in the recycling stream.
Effect pigments form a category of their own.
Their platelet-like structure produces gloss, shimmer and metallic effects that cannot be achieved with conventional pigments. They are more sensitive to shear and place particular demands on processing and formulation.
What else goes into a masterbatch?
Pigment preparations are complemented by fillers, which are added specifically to modify material and processing properties — for example to improve flow behaviour, abrasion resistance or mechanical stability. A masterbatch is therefore far more than a colour formula: it is a carefully coordinated system of colourants, additives, fillers and carrier material.
Why a Colour Is Sometimes More Difficult to Achieve
Even if a desired colour looks convincing on a paint chip or in another material, it cannot always be reproduced quickly or straightforwardly in plastics.
Colouring plastics involves a large number of interacting factors: pigment chemistry, concentrations, carrier and target polymers with their individual properties and inherent colours, processing temperatures and the intended application. Add to this regulatory requirements — for example various standards for sensitive applications, migration limits and much more.
This is precisely where it gets demanding: not every pigment that could theoretically deliver a desired colour is actually permitted. Manufacturers developing products for food contact, medical technology, toys or outdoor use operate within a narrow corridor of approved colourants. Requirements from REACH, various food contact regulations or country-specific legislation significantly limit the available options. For certain colours, only very few suitable pigments may exist.
There is another factor to consider: even two pigments with the same Colour Index — that is, the same defined colour locus — can produce different results in practice. Differences in particle size, manufacturing process or dispersion behaviour mean that seemingly identical starting materials can perform differently in plastics. This becomes particularly apparent with light, transparent or sensitive shades.
What This Means for Development Work
A colour that truly works is not simply the result of choosing the right pigment — it requires the right combination of colourant, carrier system, dispersion, dosage and process management.
Our goal is not just to match the colour as closely as possible. It must perform consistently in production — stable, reproducible and appropriate for the application.
What we bring to the table and assess:
- Colourant selection considering polymer type, processing temperature, application and regulatory requirements
- Dispersion quality: uniform distribution of pigment particles, which determines colour homogeneity and surface quality
- Migration behaviour: particularly for dyes or applications involving food or body contact
- Light and weather fastness: for outdoor applications or UV-exposed products
- Thermal stability during processing and across the entire product service life
- Recycling compatibility and ensuring that masterbatches do not generate harmful degradation products in the recycling stream
- Reproducibility: the same colour, batch after batch
In practice, this means we have open conversations about what is possible — and what is not. If a desired colour cannot be fully achieved under the given requirements, we say so at an early stage and work with you to find a technically sound alternative.
Developing a Colour? We Are Here to Help
You have a target colour in mind and are wondering whether it is achievable in plastics? We will tell you honestly what is possible — and what is not.
Contact us at: Or by phone: +49 (0) 9571 789-0
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