In the sports segment, trends become visible faster and more intensively than in most other sectors. The color scheme in particular creates special product distinctions and arouses emotions. Designers repeatedly present us plastics specialists with very demanding tasks with their special requirements. This affects the structural design, but especially the coloring of components.
In the case of plastic parts that are to be adjusted according to the design specifications via masterbatch coloring, purely functional component properties and material properties cannot be separated from one another. A color masterbatch always interacts, as it were as an additional component in a natural-colored plastic compound. Insufficient consideration of these interactions and influences leads in many cases to very significant losses in the mechanical properties of the plastic used. This applies in particular to long fiber reinforced thermoplastics (LFT).
With LUVOCOM LFT, the LEHVOSS Group offers innovative and unique long fiber materials. Some of these can be colored. In close cooperation with ROWA Masterbatch and the end customer, color development, its evaluation and the testing of the component properties are carried out. Maintaining the outstanding properties of an LFT is crucial in masterbatch development. Particular knowledge and care are required when selecting the carrier materials, colorants and other components.
ROWA and LEHVOSS Group have established a successful cooperation in this area for the benefit of the customers. After a color adjustment, the material properties are often checked in order to guarantee the best possible application security for the customer. A final functional test is then carried out as part of the component tests at the customer.
A successful example of this interaction is the development of a polymer-specific and customer-specific color masterbatch for MARKER Deutschland GmbH. As the inventor of the modern ski binding, MARKER is one of the largest ski binding manufacturers in the world and a leader in alpine and ski touring bindings. The company places high and very special demands on components. In addition to the purely technical functionality, the appearance of ski bindings also plays a very important role. After all, the eye also buys!
For components of a new ski touring binding, a masterbatch was developed for MARKER which, in addition to the pure coloring, contains an effect pigment. This special pigment creates a special effect when exposed to sunlight, which is intended to imitate the glitter of snow. A challenge for the colorists from ROWA, but also for the LUVOCOM LFT used, in this case a high-impact PA66-LGF.
Based on a high understanding of the material for the LUVOCOM LFT, a masterbatch was developed at ROWA, which leaves the mechanical properties, especially the high impact strength, almost unaffected. The low-temperature impact strength in particular is the decisive technical parameter in this application!
All in all, the possibilities of coloring with polymer-specific masterbatches can be transferred to a wide range of applications. For example, in other sports and outdoor applications or in various industrial segments where particularly high demands are placed on mechanical strength and rigidity. A common understanding of how color masterbatches designed for use in long-fiber materials must be designed is crucial. This is the only way to fully exploit the full performance of the material in connection with an attractive appearance.
The natural-colored LFT used here shows very good colorability. Thanks to special measures, LUVOCOM LFT ensures that the proportion of discolouration that is otherwise usual with long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastics is extremely low. Rejects caused by color errors can thus be almost completely ruled out.
MARKER ski bindings with LUVOCOM LFT and customized coloring