Additive Masterbatches

An additive masterbatch carries a functional additive — UV stabiliser, slip, anti-block, antistatic and others — pre-dispersed in a carrier resin, so you dose pellets at the machine instead of handling powder. That removes weighing errors, dust exposure and the agglomeration that causes gels and specks. It also means the additive is already distributed before it reaches your screw. See what is masterbatch and masterbatch vs compound vs dry pigment.

They solve different problems. Anti-block puts microscopic roughness between the layers so they cannot achieve intimate contact. Slip lowers the coefficient of friction so the layers move over each other. Blocking on the reel is usually an anti-block problem; film that will not open on the bagging machine is usually a slip problem. Many film grades need both, balanced against print and seal requirements. Our article on anti-block and slip on film works through the diagnosis.

With a UV stabiliser masterbatch sized against the actual solar load and the required service life, not chosen generically. Indian solar exposure is high, and greenhouse film has the added problem of agrochemical attack on the stabiliser system, which is why greenhouse grades use a different HALS package from plain mulch film. See UV masterbatch for mulch film and our agriculture page.

A PPA is a fluoropolymer additive that coats the die and lets the melt slip past it. You need one if you see melt fracture or sharkskin on blown film, if you are running at high output on a narrow die gap, or if die build-up forces frequent stops to clean. It typically lets you run faster or at lower temperature. It is not a fix for poor dispersion or a wrong melt flow index.

An antistatic masterbatch. Plastics are insulators and hold surface charge, which attracts airborne dust — a visible problem on household goods, cosmetics packaging and dark automotive interior parts. Antistatics migrate to the surface and dissipate the charge. Migration is time and humidity dependent, so tell us how quickly after moulding the parts are packed.

Yes. Anti-fog masterbatch changes the surface energy of the film so condensation spreads into a clear continuous layer instead of forming light-scattering droplets — the difference between a customer seeing the produce and seeing a misted lid. It is specified differently for chilled and for ambient applications. See our packaging page.

Often yes, and it is usually the better option: one product to dose, one let-down ratio to control, and no risk of an operator adding one and forgetting the other. The limit is chemical compatibility — some stabiliser systems interact with certain pigments. Tell us the full requirement and we will advise whether to combine or keep them separate. See Color Masterbatches.

We supply flame retardant masterbatch as part of our additive range, alongside heat stabilisers, anti-oxidants, nucleating and clarifying agents, optical brighteners, anti-warp, anti-sink and antimicrobial grades. Flame retardancy is specified against a standard and a wall thickness, so tell us which rating you are testing to and on which polymer. Relevant for wire, cable and electrical, building and construction and automotive work.

Yes. Life Color Pigments & Masterbatches is an additive masterbatch manufacturer in India, based at Vasai East, Palghar, Maharashtra, supplying additive grades alongside white masterbatch, black masterbatch, colour masterbatch and mono concentrates. Read more about us or contact us.