New masterbatches meet automotive design trends

The fast-changing design trends for automotive interior have created a requirement for masterbatches that meet the criteria for high performance and aesthetics. In this area, many suppliers of plastic compounds and concentrates have strived to come up with the right formula to meet the challenge. 

Modern Dispersions Inc., a global supplier of thermoplastic compounds and concentrates, launched  blue-tone carbon black masterbatches for use in automotive interior applications. The introduction complements the company’s line of masterbatch formulations for the automotive industry and came in the wake of growing customer demand for blue-tone black colors which are highly desired for their aesthetics in certain applications.  

Mr. Jan Kozma, VP of Sales and Marketing

Modern Dispersions’ three new blue-tone carbon black masterbatches are targeted for door panels, instrument panels, and other interior applications, according to Jan Kozma, vice president of sales and marketing for Modern Dispersions. “The automotive interior market is challenging because it has to satisfy the demand for customization and frequent updates due to vehicle model changes,” explained Mr. Kozma. “This new product fills an important design need for automakers.”

Matching the color scheme

Typical automotive applications require strong dispersion of pigments into various interior surfaces to match the overall color scheme. “Modern automotive interiors demand higher jetness along with different undertones from a pigment masterbatch to match the overall interior scheme,” said Mr. Kozma. Carbon black is used in auto interiors not only as a pigment but as a functional filler due to its ability to increase ultraviolent (UV) stability. Color levels are carefully controlled to insure consistency since variables during processing can affect the color performance of the masterbatch, according to Mr. Kozma.

The blue-tone carbon black masterbatch can be used in a wide range of resin systems including polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and thermoplastic olefin elastomers (TPOs). Typical usage levels range from 5% to 8% by weight depending on the total polymer system in the final product.

The new blue-tone masterbaches have found commercial use in a range of interior applications at leading U.S. automakers. Modern Disperions has an array of black masterbatches which produce interior surfaces with higher jetness coupled with different types of undertones ranging from blue to yellow and green to red. The company’s automotive masterbatches are known for their high dispersion capability and can be tailored to meet the needs of carrier resins, additive packages, and various undertones.

100% recycled carbon black

Modern Dispersions  also introduced a new line of black masterbatches that contains 100% recycled content. The company’s ECOBlack product, made of 100% recycled carbon black from post-consumer tires, sets a new standard for quality versus competitive recycle-content black masterbatches and delivers a cost savings.  

“Our new offering, ECOBlack, provides a sustainable alternative to conventional carbon black and establishes a new benchmark in terms of quality and cost,” said Mr. Kozma. ECOBlack 40 complements the company’s line of black masterbatch formulations. It is a polyethylene-based masterbatch that provides the same performance as many standard grades of carbon black. From the sustainability standpoint, the use of 100% recycled content delivers major advantages. Every ton of feedstock used in the recovery process results in the elimination of one ton of oil in the production process and 1.4 tons of CO₂ emissions, according to the company.

The black masterbatch offers a cost savings from 5% to 10% over standard grades and can be used in many traditional applications such as film, sheet, and molded items. The new material is used at typical masterbatch letdown ratios of between 2% and 5%. Modern Dispersions has trialed the new black masterbatch in several automotive and office furniture applications.