Competence in transparency

GRAFE is an expert in coloring translucent plastics

Decades of experience, the highest level of technical know-how and state-of-the-art technical equipment - these are the three pillars on which the comprehensive expertise of the GRAFE GROUP, Blankenhain, in the coloring of transparent engineering plastics rests. "The requirements for dispersion and homogenization are much higher for transparent materials than for opaque colorings," explains sales manager Lars Tonnecker. "Therefore, a compound is a better and cleaner solution than a masterbatch when it comes to product manufacturing. This is because defect patterns on the component, such as uneven color distribution, streaks and concentration differences, can be avoided or eliminated, since there is no need for additional metering of the masterbatch at the factory."

"Whether headlights, taillights or displays - colored transparent plastics are mostly used in lighting applications. For this, there are precisely defined wavelength ranges from the manufacturers that must be adhered to and from which there must be no deviations," adds project manager Elke Milus. "We can adjust our compounds so that each batch corresponds to the other with minimal tolerances, with the highest reproducibility and thus the best quality."

GRAFE has also recently invested extensively in its laboratory equipment and now has, among other things, a high-resolution spectrophotometer for measuring transmission in different wavelength ranges (UV/VIS/NIR = ultraviolet/visible/near-infrared). Thanks to its higher optical resolution in an extended wavelength range from 350 to 1,050 nanometers, the instrument even measures in five-nanometer steps instead of the usual ten-nanometer steps and is thus much more precise.