BASE BLACK: GRAFE develops an efficient alternative for the most common automotive blacks

BASE BLACK: flexible adjustment and permanently available

With the new BASE BLACK masterbatch for polypropylene (PP), GRAFE, Blankenhain, has developed an efficient alternative for the most common automotive black shades, which, in addition to its permanent availability - sample quantities are shipped the same day for production tests - also offers a significantly better price level compared to an OEM direct color. In addition, the masterbatch can also be flexibly adjusted.

"Our BASE BLACK masterbatch already achieves excellent color values at standard parameters in the production process, which are within the OEM tolerance and only deviate slightly from the direct colors," reports Lars Schulze, Head of Colour Development and Material Sciences, referring to minimal differences when comparing L*a*b* color values at Audi/VW, Daimler, Renault/Dacia, Tesla or BMW, for example. "The development is used for rapid initial sampling and can be brought to the target through process optimization," he adds.

"We are happy to support our customers in the final optimization step to the perfect color because BASE BLACK can already be adjusted in the production process by minimal parameter shifts - for example, in dosage, processing temperature, or pressure," explains Johannes Grau, Strategic Accounts Mobility Solutions. "Our product represents an alternative to the otherwise usual detailed settings that are adjusted to the polymer and component," he adds. In addition, it could also reduce warehousing costs.