Optical brightening masterbatches, also called fluorescent whitening agents, is a common product of masterbatches manufacturing industry. This material is usually used to enhance whiteness and brightness of the plastic-based products. So how does this additive work and how does it benefit the plastic production?
What is Optical Brightening masterbatches and theirs functions?
Optical brightening (OB) is a type of additive masterbatches functioning in making the product to get a brighter, cleaner and more white appearance. Optical brightener works by absorbing light in violet and ultra-violet (UV) spectrum (340 -370 nm) and re-emit light in blue region (420 -470 nm). This fluorescent mechanism hides the effects of color yellow and makes the color reflected to your eyes appear to be more blueish.
These abilities of optical brightener were brought by adding special brightener chemical into the base resin. One of the most commonly used chemical is diphenol vinyl-dibenzoxazol (C22H12N2O2).The brightener compound will be added with a small amount into the masterbatches mixture, usually less than 5%. Several recommended dosage are OB1 (1%), OB2 (0.5%) and OB3 (0.25%). The exact ratio will be thoughtfully calculated by EuP’s experts.
Optical brightening masterbatch usually appears in the tint yellowish pellets.
Why we need optical brightener masterbatches when we already have white masterbatch?
Optical brightener is not the only way for manufacturers to create a bright and white look. White masterbatch and other colorants for plastics can also do this. However, products made of white masterbatch usually are not qualified as desires. The perfectly whiteness is hard to achieve due to several reasons. First, there are a lot of base resins, so it will be difficult to find the suitable colorants. Secondly, processing often cause strange substance in the mixture. These unwanted substances may affect the quality and color of finished products. Most importantly, color masterbatches only display the desired color in appropriate conditions, such as in sufficient light conditions. Being more advanced then color masterbatch, optical brightener helps the products to show up bright color even in dark or light-deficit places.
Typical benefits of optical brightening masterbatches
Optical brightener is advanced in various aspects. These followings are typical advantages of EuroPlas optical brightening additive:
- Improve initial color
- Get brilliancy of colored articles
- Contain high concentrated brightener chemicals
- Give smooth and glossy surface of film
- Improve optical properties
- Bring bright look of finished products
- Give neutrality to reprocess plastic masterbatch
- Imparts bluish – purple tint
- Improve whiteness of recycled polymer
