What Is a PET Masterbatch?

A PET masterbatch is a concentrated mixture of pigments and additives that can be added to a carrier plastic polymer before extrusion. The addition of a masterbatch can help to increase the efficiency of the production process, as well as making it more cost effective. A masterbatch can also be used to improve the performance of a specific type of plastic product.

The additives in a PET masterbatch can be colorants, slip agents, anti-block agents, and a variety of other functional additives. The addition of a special kind of slip agent can reduce the friction between the polymer and the dies of an industrial extruder, thus ensuring that the PET particles move more freely during the formation of a sheet. The resulting sheet is easier to cut and handle, and will have a lower risk of defects such as brittleness or rippling.

PET is a highly versatile plastic that can be used for a variety of applications. It can be injection molded to produce bottles, or it can be extruded to produce thin films and sheets. It can also be thermoformed into containers and bottles by blow molding, which works by reheating a pre-molded PET preform.

When using PET for packaging, it is important to use an additive to prevent the formation of oxygen bubbles that could cause spoilage. Oxygen is a highly reactive gas that can degrade the polymer and create oxidation-related defects in the finished products. Clariant’s CESA-absorb is a PET masterbatch that helps to prevent the formation of these bubbles by absorbing oxygen during the packaging process. This can help to prolong the shelf life of the product, as it will stay fresher longer.

CESA-absorb can be added to a PET bottle directly or as an add-in to an existing formula. In addition, it can be mixed with standard PET colorants without affecting the haze level. This makes it ideal for clear, translucent, and colored PET bottles produced for personal care, household and cleaning, cosmetics, and beverage products.

The CESA-absorb masterbatch is available in a range of viscosities, which makes it suitable for many different manufacturing processes and temperatures. The odorless, non-toxic additive is safe for direct contact with food and beverage products. The CESA-absorb masterbatches are available from Clariant’s distribution network in Europe, the Middle East & Africa, and Asia Pacific.

The additives in a PET masterbatch must be compatible with the carrier polymer in order to work effectively. The choice of the carrier polymer can influence the properties of the resulting composite, including impact strength and transparency. In addition, the additives must be able to tolerate high temperatures. If the additives are not compatible with the polymer, they will degrade and lose their effectiveness. The best polymers to choose for additives are those with a low melting point. This allows them to be processed at lower temperatures, which can reduce the energy consumed and CO2 emissions associated with production. An example of a good polymer for this application is Akestra(tm), which has a very wide processing window.