Black Concentrate: Providing the Ideal Shade of Black

Ever wonder why so many plastic products are colored black? Welcome to the fascinating world of black concentrate.

In this article, we will analyze the many facets of black concentrate, which is used by many plastic product manufacturers around the world for coloring and many other purposes. Manufacturers mix black concentrate, which is also known as black masterbatch, into the raw polymer during the production process.We will discuss the reasons behind th

e vast popularity of black concentrate, and elaborate on its many uses throughout many industries. We will also discuss particular concepts, such as carbon black concentrate and sustainable black masterbatch products. 

As this is an introductory article, we won’t be able to cover everything in in-depth detail, so it is only natural that you may have questions. It you want more information on black concentrate, we urge you to contact us. We will be happy to provide you with any additional relevant data. Please feel free to contact us.

A Few Words About Black Concentrate

Black concentrate is a very popular and particular form of color concentrate. Plastic products rely on color concentrates to provide their specific color hues and shades. These concentrates are engineered by color concentrate suppliers, who formulate them in color laboratories. 

As an advanced color concentrate manufacturer, Tosaf creates specific concentrates that match the needs of its clients. These needs range from special pigments to added qualities that enhance the plastic’s lifecycle, to sustainability compliance. 

Black concentrate is made from black pigments. The most popular pigment used is carbon black, but there are other pigments that can be used as well, such as graphene or graphite. Now, while most of us think of black as a very dark color, in fact it comes in many shades and depths. Black concentrate can be formulated to create a very specific depth of black color. 

We mentioned that black is a very popular color concentrate. There are many reasons for this. First of all, when it comes to packaging, black is highly coveted because it stands out. It has also been used in many industries for decades – just think about plastic automotive interiors – and is therefore viewed as irreplaceable. In addition, due to qualities such as UV protection, black concentrate can prolong product lifecycles.  

Tosaf provides black concentrate for a wide range of industries: 

• Packaging
• Building & Construction
• Automotive
• Agriculture
• Sport & Leisure

How does the building & construction industry use black concentrate in its plastic products?

We chose to focus on this particular industry, as an example of how black concentrate helps enhance its plastic products – namely pipes and fittings. 

Pipes and fittings are colored in dark shades for a reason. Black concentrate helps prolong their lifecycle by offering high-quality protection from harmful UV light. But that’s not all. Black concentrate can include properties that prevent cracking and strengthen the plastic itself. It is a very good product performance enhancer. 

I have heard of the term color dispersion. What does this mean?

When black concentrate – on any other color concentrate, for that matter – is mixed into the raw polymer, the goal is to achieve optimal color dispersion throughout the entire product. Yet sometimes, due to issues with the carrier resin or with the qualities of the specific concentrate, this doesn’t happen. 

As a result, the final product can suffer from agglomeration, which means that unwanted clusters form on the product’s surface. In addition, poor color scattering harms the product’s strength, as its positive properties – from UV protection to FR qualities – are not evenly dispersed.

At Tosaf, one of the things that we pride ourselves on is the quality of our color masterbatches. One key quality parameter is optimal color concentrate dispersion.  

Can products with black concentrate be recycled?

The answer is yes. In today’s world, environmental sustainability is a key value – and rightfully so. A majority of industries, including the plastic industry, are taking great measures to create new solutions that comply with sustainable regulations. In this respect, the additive and masterbatch industry is no different. 

Products with carbon black concentrate have always been hard to recycle. This is because carbon black absorbs the NIR radiation (short for near-IR). This radiation helps recycling facilities detect and sort plastic products, when they arrive in large bulks. When this radiation is absorbed, the products cannot be identified, and are therefore labeled “unrecyclable” and sent to landfills. 

The solution is to create Near-IR detectable black masterbatches – which is exactly what Tosaf has done. These masterbatches allow plastic products to be easily identified for recycling, without compromising their excellent jet-black color strength.     

Can you tell me more about Tosaf’s black concentrate portfolio?

When it comes to our black concentrate portfolio, it is important to note that while we offer our clients products they can use, we like to think of ourselves as service providers. We understand that every plastic product has different specifications, and that a solution that fits a certain product will not be compatible with another. 

Client-tailored and product-specific solutions are becoming more and more common in the color masterbatch manufacturing industry. As a result, Tosaf’s expert R&D team are able to formulate specific black concentrate that fit our clients’ needs, from unique pigments to special qualities, properties and functionalities. Our black masterbatch solutions comply with all industry standards and regulations. 

Want to consult with us about your black concentrate needs? We’ll be happy to help. Feel free to call us or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

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