Colour is a vector for emotion, which is an important factor when making a purchase: a way to recognise something or a decisive factor in a person’s choice. Colour is an obvious attribute that no-one can be indifferent to. It creates feelings, emotions and reactions in those who see it, and these are one of our main focuses.
Perception and Requirements
• From Perception to Interpretation : colour is a subjective perception that comes from the combination of 3 parameters (the light source, the object, the observer). This personal observation creates a rich, limitless universe. The interpretation of colour is defined by 3 criteria (hue, chroma, lightness). Individual to everybody, it is influenced by culture, the place, or even society.
• The acceptability of colour : to guarantee the colour of a product can be reproduced, and avoid subjective judgements, colorimetry can check the represented colour’s acceptability (delta E CIE 2000<1) to a standard observer.
• The colour is adjusted to your demands : to factor in the technical, toxicological and economic elements in the choice of a product’s colour, it is important to clearly define specifications. The cost of the colouring will depend on the requirements.
Effect and Function
• Colour for aesthetics, signalisation, differentiation, and customisation
• Colours effects: metallic, pearly, glittery, iridescent
• Functional colour: gives colour an extra function, such as thermosensitivity, photosensitivity, luminescence effect, fluorescent, tracer, laser marking.
• Weather fastness colour
• Colour for the whole family of polymers: Polyethylen, Polypropylen, Styrenics (PS, SAN, ABS, ASA, MABS…), PVC, Elastomers (TPU, EVA, TPE…) Polyamid (PA6, PA6.6, PA6.12, PA12,…) PMMA, Polycarbonate, Polyester, (PET, PBT, PETG, PCTG, PCTA…) Polyacetal (POM homo, POM Copo).
• Colouring of biopolymers according to EN 13432 norms
Type and Form
• Masterbatch : concentrate of finely dispersed pigments in a polymer. The use rate is generally between 1 and 5%. Several forms of pellets can be done: cylindrical (standard, microgranulate), spherical.
• Powdery Colour Preparations : mix of pigments in powder form. The use rate is less than 1%.
• Mass Colour : colour directly in the plastic being worked. The use rate is 100%.
• Liquid Colour: concentrate of finely ground pigments in a liquid binder. The use rate is generally between 0.2 and 1%.
Bruno Legentil, has more twenty years of experience in the chemistry
