Liquid Color Dosing Applications

Typical products molded using liquid color

 

Although liquid color is sometimes criticized for difficulty in handling prior to processing, it is widely used in various industries due to its unique properties and cost-savings.

The main advantages of liquid colorants are reduced material cost due to lower letdown ratios. Less liquid colorant is required to achieve the same final color as pelletized or powdered colorants, since liquid colorants generally disperse easier in the melt stage of processing, than solid colorants. In some critical applications, the lack of heat history in liquid color makes it advantageous to the properties of the final product.

Liquid colorants are commonly used in tinted clear resins and translucent parts as well as opaque parts with letdown ratios of less than 2.0%.

A large volume of liquid color is used in the polyolefin & PET packaging industry, and in the PVC found in the building & construction industry. It is also used with polycarbonate and acrylics in the automotive & consumer durable goods industries.
Common product applications for liquid color dosing are:

• Caps, closures, cosmetic cases and vitamin bottles
• Toys, tote boxes, media storage containers, house wares and office supplies
• Exterior auto lighting and decorative trim
• Washer agitators and refrigerator internal parts