NEW COLOR AND SPECIAL EFFECTS EXPAND DESIGN HORIZONS
29 October 2005 - Bayer MaterialScience AG

The Fantasia product line from Bayer MaterialScience AG uses five basic technologies to offer innumerable color variants and special effects for the coloration of plastics. Six new effects already making quite a splash on the American market have been developed for the Leda process used for coloring injection molded parts in large volumes. The Mina and Mirage product families provide a shimmering metallic and color travel effect, respectively, and exemplify the strengths of Bayer MaterialScience’s global network of Color Competence Centers. All across the globe, the CCC color experts monitor current trends and create corresponding products using mature process technologies, keeping the path from lab to customer short. The new Leda variants, developed in Bayer MaterialScience’s Color Development Laboratory in Hebron, Ohio, U.S.A., are expected to take over Europe with the first practical applications in the next 6 to 24 months.

Customers can choose between “Tangerine,” a shimmering metallic surface in bright orange, or “Flamingo,” the trade name for the same effect in pink. Other options include the effects “Wicked” in an intense light green and “Bittersweet,” a deep, chocolate brown. The color travel variants go by the names “Borealis” (violet changing to dark green) and “Desert Rose” (a metallic color travel appearance combined with pink and brown). All products are designed to complement Bayer MaterialScience’s Makrolon polycarbonate.

Whereas with Leda the color effects are produced directly during the injection molding process, Aura can be used to color plastic products after molding. Unique visual and tactile surface effects can be applied to finished profiles, tubes and sheets. Unlike the more costly and complex surface coating process, with which scratches and rub-off are immediately apparent, the colorants and additives used in the Aura process penetrate deep into the plastic part. The Aura process is also more environment-friendly and, especially with short-run products, more economical. Users remain flexible to adjust their production process to meet specific customer requests and follow fashion trends. With more than 100 colors, Aura offers a broad portfolio for the coloration of transparent, translucent and opaque molded parts. Aura also allows multiple colors and color graduations, and is a cost-effective alternative to the co-extrusion process.

Imagio is a line of specialty products for the spray coating of plastics. The composition of Imagio products has been precisely matched to the raw materials from Bayer MaterialScience. Imagio also produces extraordinary color and surface effects, such as shimmering metallic, various levels of gloss or soft touch, giving the coated plastic parts an exclusive appearance.

The ultimate in design freedom and flexibility is provided by the Faria technology, which uses printed or flocked films during the production of the molded parts. Makrofol and Bayfol films from Bayer MaterialScience provide for unusual visual and tactile effects that are particularly cost-effective with large production runs.

Milena color concentrates for optical data media made of Makrolon round out the Fantasia lineup. These color concentrates are tailored to the special requirements of CD and DVD production, and also facilitate the archiving of data media.

To help you choose the best product with respect to quality and economy from the broad Fantasia portfolio, the Bayer MaterialScience Color Competence Centers offer a comprehensive array of services, from assistance in choosing colors and effects to partnering with you on projects. These services ensure that the customer uses the optimal process solution to produce products with colors and effects in step with the times.

http://www.bayermaterialscience.com

More News:
  • For October 2005
  • From Bayer MaterialScience AG
  • For Engineering Plastics