Specialty chemicals company LANXESS has expanded its Colortherm Yellow pigment range for heat-resistant high-performance plastics. Two new inorganic yellow pigments are now available, namely Colortherm Yellow 5 and Colortherm Yellow 26. 

They are based on iron oxide and zinc oxide respectively and specially designed for cost-effective coloration in a temperature range of between 220°C and 260°C. With equally high color strength at the same color space, they offer plastics manufacturers and processors an excellent compromise between the best-in-class Colortherm Yellow 20 and Colortherm Yellow 30 products, which are heat stable up to 300°C. 

“The special feature of our Colortherm Yellow product range is the high flexibility in pigment selection,” said Stefano Bartolucci, Global Market Segment Manager for Plastics at the Inorganic Pigments business unit at LANXESS. Depending on the type of plastic, the pigments used can mean that varying levels of thermal stability are required – or, to put it more accurately, are sufficient. 

“In the case of coloring polyethylene, for example, it is sufficient for the pigments used merely not to exhibit any color changes at processing temperatures of around 240°C. However, for applications using polyamide, polypropylene and polyphenylene sulfide, thermal stability of around 300°C is essential,” explained Bartolucci. “By expanding our Colortherm Yellow range of special pigments, we have given processors the option to choose the right pigments for them, tailored to suit the type of plastic to be colored and the requisite thermal stability,” he added. 

LANXESS is able to provide customers with comprehensive advice in the use of its pigments. Its services also include analyzing thermal stability in customer-specific plastics applications. “From sample-loading to colorimetric analysis, all the necessary modules can be actuated via automated processes. This allows us to carry out highly specific tests with the highest accuracy,” said Bartolucci.