Before placing an order, you should ask your masterbatch supplier these seven important questions.
Because colour choice affects long-term dependability, compliance, and product performance in addition to aesthetics.
1. Which carrier polymer is being used?
Make sure the carrier resin (such as PP, PE, PET, PS, or ABS) is completely compatible with your base polymer. The final appearance, processing behaviour, and mechanical properties can all be impacted by an incompatible carrier.
2. Do you maintain traceability and consistency from batch to batch?
Your final product may be compromised by differences in colour tone, dispersion quality, or additive performance. Verify that the supplier offers complete traceability for each batch, spectrophotometric shade matching systems, and strong quality control procedures.
3. Does the masterbatch have certification for regulated uses like export, pharmaceuticals, or food contact?
It is crucial to adhere to regional and global standards. Check certifications such as:
- EU 10/2011 (European Food-Contact Plastics Regulation) and FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
- REACH and ROHS (chemical safety)
- India’s BIS
- This guarantees that your product satisfies safety, legal, and environmental standards.
4. Are you able to accurately match the colour of our brand?
Enquire as to whether the supplier employs spectrophotometer-based matching for accuracy and the well-known colour theory parameters of hue, value, and chroma (HVC). For visual quality and brand consistency, accurate colour reproduction is essential.
5. How do you help achieve sustainability and recyclability goals?
Select vendors who provide sustainable masterbatch choices, such as:
- White formulations with low TiO₂ to lessen the carbon impact
- Sorting in recycling streams is made possible by NIR-detectable black masterbatches.
- Masterbatches that are compatible with biodegradable materials for biobased or compostable polymers
6. Are you able to offer functional additives that are specific to our use case?
The masterbatch should improve product performance in addition to colour. Enquire about specialised remedies for:
- Stabilisation by UV
- Anti-static and anti-fog qualities
- Resistance to flames
- Slippers
- Antiblock
- Antibacterial or antimicrobial properties
7. What are your lead times and minimum order quantities (MOQs)?
Your supply chain can be streamlined by having clear expectations about production volumes and delivery schedules, especially for functional masterbatches or customised shades where lead times may differ.
Last Remark
A masterbatch is an essential part of performance, not just a colourant.
Choose a supplier who can confidently answer each of these seven questions.
