Solutions for

Masterbatches

Great Solutions with Small Particles

Zinc sulfide white pigments

Great Solutions with Small Particles White + soft + cost-efficient

In both polyolefins and engineering plastics, masterbat- The following white pigment properties are important for
ches are becoming ever more firmly established for use in production of white masterbatches:
the coloration of polymers. Customers now increasingly
require lower-cost coloration, greater flexibility and ever Dispersibility
more demanding mechanical properties. Sachtleben‘s de- Optical properties
cades of experience in the production of the most diverse Resistance to yellowing
range of titanium dioxide and zinc/barium-based particles Resistance to lacing
enables it to supply a broad spectrum of solutions for pro- Cost-efficiency
duction and development of new, tailor-made masterbat-
ches with good cost benefit ratios for a large spectrum of Sachtleben’s products meet the specific needs of master-
functions: as white pigments, additives and fillers. batch producers.

Original Modified with

Approximate
LITHOPONE 30%DS formulation TiO2 / LITHOPONE
figures
with TiO2
The rheological and optical properties of LITHOPONE 30%DS
assure significant technical and economic benefits for Polymer [%] 38.5 23.5
this product in the preparation of white masterbatches. TiO2 [%] 60 50
LITHOPONE 30%DS is a co-precipitation of zinc sulphide
LITHOPONE 30%DS [%] - 25
and barium sulfate and supplied by Sachtleben with a ZnS
content of 30%. Additives [%] 1.5 1.5
Thanks to its special secondary treatment and grin-
CIE L* (1) 97.3 97.1
ding (extremly low sieve residue), LITHOPONE 30%DS
possesses not only optimum optical properties, but also CIE a* (1) - 0.6 - 0.6
excellent dispersibility in all thermoplastics, even at extre- CIE b* (1)
0.7 0.7
mely high filling levels.
(1) Ten 50 µm films on a white substrate
Partial replacement of TiO2, fillers and polymers with
LITHOPONE 30%DS enables masterbatch producers to
achieve an improved product combined with an optimized
cost-structure. A higher ultimate elongation was observed,
for example, when LITHOPONE 30%DS was used in PE films;
the impact strength of many thermoplastics (e.g. PP and
ABS) was also improved. Proneness to lacing is also lower
when TiO2 content is reduced, since LITHOPONE 30%DS
does not itself cause lacing.

The Masterbatches containing 50% TiO2 and 25%

LITHOPONE 30%DS achieve the same or better hiding
power as batches consisting of 60% TiO2 (rutile), but with
a significantly higher extruder yield. Processing costs are
thus reduced, thanks to restructured fixed costs. The low
Mohs hardness of LITHOPONE 30%DS also significantly
reduces abrasive wear on the extruder compared to TiO2,
a factor which can have considerable benefits in terms of
lower maintenance costs and longer servicing intervals.

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Rutile titanium dioxide white pigments

SACHTLEBEN R405
SACHTLEBEN R405 is an alumina surface-treated, hy-
drophobic titanium dioxide pigment possessing rapid
and excellent dispersibility in a large range of polymers.
SACHTLEBEN R405‘s fine crystallite and particle sizes po-
sition it in the group of blue-undertone plastics grades.
SACHTLEBEN R405 is recommended, in particular, for use
in systems in which fineness of pigment dispersion is the
top priority: polyolefins, styrenics, engineering plastics,
etc. SACHTLEBEN R405 permits production of highly pig-
mented concentrates, including polyolefin masterbatches,
for example.

SACHTLEBEN R420
SACHTLEBEN R420 is an alumina-silica-zirconia surface-tre-
ated hydrophobic rutile titanium dioxide pigment and com-
bines outstanding durability with excellent optical proper-
ties. SACHTLEBEN R420‘s fine crystallite and particle sizes
position it in the group of neutral/blue-undertone plastics
grades. SACHTLEBEN R420 is highly suited for use in nearly
all polymers Thanks to its high level of resistance to outdoor
exposure, it is particularly popular for use in products for
outdoor service.

SACHTLEBEN R620K
SACHTLEBEN R620K is a stabilized, hydrophobically coa-
ted and inorganically treated micronized TiO2 pigment
possessing high whiteness and excellent dispersibility in all
thermoplastics. SACHTLEBEN R620K is suitable for use in
virtually all thermoplastics, and particularly in the produc-
tion of UV- and weathering-resistant films, engineering
components and plastic sections. SACHTLEBEN R620K is
part of the group of warm-undertone plastics grades.

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Anatase titanium dioxide white pigments

Anatase - a specialty in its own right

Titanium dioxide crystallizes into three modifications, known
as rutile, anatase and brookite; only rutile and anatase are
of commercial significance. Anatase, with its slightly lower
scattering power, is not a true competitor for rutile in stan-
dard white pigment applications, and the selection of ana-
tase as a white pigment should be based on other specific
properties which only it possesses; the difference between
the crystal hardnesses of rutile and anatase is of particular
importance in this context. Anatase, at 5.8 on the Mohs
hardness scale, has a lower physical hardness than rutile,
at 6.5; this is the reason for the use of anatase pigments in
a wide range of plastics applications, since its lower abra-
siveness reduces wear on processing equipment. Anatase‘s
blue-shifted absorption edge gives it a more bluish tint than
rutile, and therefore makes it suitable for use in unique,
slightly blue-tinted white plastic products. In combination
with optical brighteners, this same shift in the pigment‘s
HOMBITAN LO-CR-K
absorption edge produces bright and glossy solutions. HOMBITAN LO-CR-K, an inorganically coated, hydrophobic
anatase white pigment, is less abrasive than its rutile counter-
parts. Processing equipment and cutting tools are therefore
less exposed to wear. The product is thus particularly suitable
for the pigmentation of films and blow-moulded products.
Since the anatase modification transmits near-range UV light,
HOMBITAN LO-CR-K can be used in formulations containing
optical brighteners and/or fluorescent pigments. Particularly
brilliant hues are achieved in combination with colored pig-
ments.
HOMBITAN MCT300
HOMBITAN MCT300 is a cutting-edge anatase pigment
specially tailored for use in highly sophisticated applica- HOMBITAN MCT300
tions. HOMBITAN MCT300 provides important benefits
for users, including good rheological (flow) properties and
low dust generation; it is readily wettable in a large ran- HOMBITAN MCT300

ge of polymer systems, assuring high throughput rates.

HOMBITAN MCT300‘s excellent dispersibility permits pro-
duction of extremely thin films, and of laminated films, High-quality
anatase
with exceptionally low lacing, even at high loadings and pigments

temperatures, with minimized pressure increase at melt fil-

ters. HOMBITAN MCT300 has no effects on product odour Standard
or taste. With its anatase structure, HOMBITAN MCT300 anatase
pigments

imparts a high bluish tint to white products, while simulta-

neously reducing abrasive wear on processing equipment.
The recommended applications for HOMBITAN MCT300
include thin films, co-extruded laminated films, laminated
containers, masterbatches, credit and bank cards, blister
packaging, etc.

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Ultra-fine titanium dioxide additives

HOMBITEC RM130F and UV-vis transmission of unmodified polymer

HOMBITEC RM230L and polymer modified with HOMBITEC

Additive masterbatches are coming increasingly into use

Transmission [%]
for the production of transparent packaging and agricul-
tural films and foils. Sachtleben supplies tailor-made pro-
ducts for these applications. The HOMBITEC RM130F and
HOMBITEC RM230L TiO2 grades are highly efficient trans-
parent UV absorbers based on Sachtleben’s technology for
the production of ultra-fine titanium dioxides.
with 0.5 %wt. HOMBITEC RM130F

with 0.5 %wt. HOMBITEC RM230L

no UV absorber

Wavelengt [nm]

Polymer: LDPE
Elenac / Lupolen 1800H
Film thickness: 50 μm

Artificial weathering of organic (left) and inorganic (right) UV absorbers

before weathering after 400h
Transmission (%)

Transmission (%)

0.5% UV absorber (org.) 0.5% HOMBITEC

0.5% HALS 0.5% HALS

Sachtleben supplies tailor-made transparent TiO2 grades for Thanks to a doping process which greatly reduces the
a range of sophisticated applications. The individual grades photoactivity of the TiO2 base, combined with further
of ultra-fine HOMBITEC TiO2 differ in their crystallite size, treatment which assures uniform particle-size distribution
surface treatment and crystal-lattice doping. Once incorpo- and good dispersibility, the HOMBITEC RM130F and 230L
rated, HOMBITEC, an inorganic material, is immune to mi- grades are suitable for use in polyolefins and PVC.
gration. Its UV-absorption characteristics therefore remain
constant throughout the service-life of the polymer, in con-
trast to organic UV absorbers, the performance of which
declines due to migration and/or destruction as a result of
weathering.

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Synthetic barium sulfate additives

BLANC FIXE micro

Further properties:
BLANC FIXE micro is a synthetic barium sulfate. Thanks to
its synthesis from high-purity solutions, BLANC FIXE micro An inert product, therefore lightfast and
is free of disruptive impurities, such as quartz, for ex- resistant to weathering
ample. In addition, BLANC FIXE micro also possesses an Neutral hued, thanks to its low refractive
extremely narrow particle-size range, permitting maxi- index
mum standards for gloss. Its low specific surface area High brilliance in colored systems
and organic coating impart extremely good wettability to Low specific surface area
BLANC FIXE micro, and permit high filling levels. Low abrasiveness, thanks to low Mohs hardness

That expensive feeling

Quality plays a special role in the fields of cosmetics, dome-
stic products and consumer goods, in particular. BLANC FIXE
micro is suitable for use in applications subject to maximum
demands for appearance and utility. BLANC FIXE micro im-
parts an impression of heaviness wherever it is used, creating,
BLANC FIXE micro powder
in combination with the good mechanical and optical proper-
ties of the relevant compounds, such as ABS, for example, an
impression of quality and an „expensive“ feeling. Thanks to
this product‘s excellent dispersibility, masterbatches containing
60% BLANC FIXE micro can be produced without difficulty.

Mechanical Properties Optical Properties

20° 60°
6
100
Gloss

90
Impact strength (Charpy) [kJ/m2]

5
80
4 70
60
3
50
2 40
30
1
20
0 10
ABS + 10% + 20% + 30%
no filler BLANC FIXE BLANC FIXE BLANC FIXE 0
2% Black MB + 10% + 20% + 60%
micro micro micro
in ABS BLANC FIXE micro BLANC FIXE micro BLANC FIXE micro

Formulation and tristimulus values

Black masterbatch 2% Black masterbatch 2% Black masterbatch 2% Black masterbatch 2%
ABS 98% ABS 88% ABS 78% ABS 38%
BLANC FIXE micro 0% BLANC FIXE micro 10% BLANC FIXE micro 20% BLANC FIXE micro 60%

CIE L* 11.5 12.6 14.4 27.9

CIE a* 0.0 0.0 -0.1 -0.3
CIE b* -1.8 -1.6 -1.6 -3.2

5
Cost-efficient solutions
The pigments in a masterbatch formulation are its most
cost-intensive element. Pigmentation should, therefore,
always be as economical and efficient as possible. Nu-
merous other pigments are prone to agglomeration,
which reduces the pigment‘s scattering power.
BLANC FIXE micro’s excellent dispersibility in all thermo-
plastics, its low refractive index (1.64) and its defined par-
ticle-size range (d50 = 0.7 µm) make it possible to produce
white and colored masterbatches particularly cost effec-
tively using micro as an „additive”“. BLANC FIXE micro
can be used to replace up to 10% of other pigments.

Inert barium sulfate particles act as spacers between pigment particles

Spacer

The beneficial properties of BLANC FIXE micro can be ex-

ploited in a number of ways:

Gloss results, colored pigments Tristimulus value, inorganic white ( TiO2 )

CIE L* CIE a* CIE b*

90 100 +2.00
Gloss [20º]

90 +1.50
85 80
+1.00
70

CIE a*, b*
80 +0.50
CIE L*

60

50 0.00
75
40
- 0.50
70 30
- 1.00
20
65 10
- 1.50

0 - 2.00
60 10% pigment replaced Basis: 99% LD-PE 10% pigment and 10% carrier
by BLANC FIXE micro 1% Pigment replaced by BLANC FIXE micro

10% pigment replaced Basis: 99% LD-PE 10% pigment and 10%
by BLANC FIXE micro 1% colored pigment carrier replaced by
BLANC FIXE micro

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 Sachtleben does not guarantee the accuracy, topicality, correctness, completeness, quality or usefulness of any information provided.
Any liability claims in connection with such information are excluded.
04.020.04.11.e

Great Solutions with Small Particles

Sachtleben Chemie GmbH Sales Office Plastics:

A company of Holdings, Inc. Phone +49 2066 22 - 2671
P.O. Box 17 04 54 • D-47184 Duisburg / Germany E-Mail: plastics@sachtleben.com
E-Mail: info@sachtleben.de • www.sachtleben.com