Masterbatch

Put simply, colour masterbatch is concentrated pigment or dye encapsulated in a carrier polymer or proprietary carrier system, pelletised for ease of addition to the injection moulding or extrusion process. There are four main options for colouring plastic: compounding, dry pigment, liquid colour masterbatch, and solid colour masterbatch. Compounding can become cost-effective at volumes of a tonne or more while dry pigments and liquid colour can be messy and hard to handle without the proper equipment. Solid masterbatch generally offers the simplest, quickest, most cost-effective and flexible solution for colouring polymers.

Additive masterbatch isn’t necessarily the same as colour masterbatch although additive masterbatch can include a colour (we sometimes call this a combi-batch).
So we split our range by function. Colour and special-effect masterbatch sits under Masterbatch; additive masterbatch and raw additives sit under Additives.

Masterbatch is not suitable for use in plunger injection moulding machines as it explicitly requires the mechanical mixing action of a screw for proper, uniform dispersion.

Universal Masterbatch uses a proprietary carrier that is an engineered, secret blend of polymers and waxes. This formulation significantly increases the compatibility of the masterbatch across a much wider range of polymers. Our Universal Masterbatch range is of this premium type and uses the highest quality pigments and dyestuffs, often in higher concentrations than in standard masterbatch formulations. This means that while the per-kilo price may be higher than a polymer-specific grade of the same colour, the addition rate is often much lower—typically just 1% or less in many common polymer types.

Note: Some LDPE and LD/EVA masterbatches on the market are branded as ‘Universal’, just to confuse matters. Always test for compatibility before committing to a production run.

The candid answer is no. Not every individual colour will work in every single polymer type. This limitation can occur for several technical reasons, but it is most frequently due to the inability of the specific pigment or dye to survive the high processing temperature of certain engineering polymers. To help you make the right technical choice, our Universal Colour Chart provides a clear list of fully compatible polymers and maximum processing temperatures.

Not always. Base material colour, additive packages, pigment dispersion patterns and baseline processing temperatures differ heavily between various raw materials, which can subtly shift the final visual colour profile. While adjusting the let-down or addition rate can occasionally counteract this, it sometimes isn’t chemically possible to achieve identical aesthetic results in two different polymers from a single masterbatch. In those high-specification scenarios, using two or more distinct polymer-specific masterbatches or colour compounds is usually the best approach for colour consistency across parts.

As a versatile off-the-shelf product, universal masterbatch can be purchased from stock in virtually any quantity. This makes it highly attractive to moulders handling short production runs or looking to minimize warehouse inventory costs by buying what they need, exactly when they need it. Its cross-material compatibility is also highly efficient if you plan to utilize the same shade across several distinct jobs and base materials.

While the per-kilo cost is typically higher, this is heavily offset by the lower addition rate. Our standard stocking range offers around 200 colours—including transparent, fluorescent, edge glow, and other specialty effects—with approximately 80 of these maintained in highly popular use. Custom target colours can also be produced on a Universal carrier if your project requires it.

Polymer-specific masterbatch is a colour solution formulated to an off-the-shelf or bespoke colour reference where the masterbatch carrier system matches the base production polymer family—such as a dedicated Nylon carrier system for use in colouring raw Nylon. It is worth noting that some polymer-specific formulations can navigate overlapping polymer families; for instance, a premium Polyethylene (PE) masterbatch may offer clean compatibility within PE, Polypropylene (PP), select Nylons, and other specific resins. Contact us for assistance in determine the optimum solution for your specific requirements.

Polymer-specific masterbatch is the superior choice when producing a custom colour match that demands absolute compatibility with your base production polymer. Using the exact same base material (or a highly compatible alternative) as the pigment carrier ensures optimal dispersion, processing stability, and mechanical consistency in the finished part.

While polymer-specific grades have traditionally carried a cost premium in small volumes—with a standard market MOQ sitting at 25kg—for orders of 25kg and above, they often become a more cost-effective option than Universal masterbatch, even at a higher addition rate. To support agile operations, Plastiserve can offer custom polymer-specific masterbatch in lots smaller than 25kg for certain carrier systems. For larger production runs consider our custom colour compounds as a frequently more cost-effective option.

Most commercial injection moulders and extruders use an automated dosing machine attached to the hopper, which accurately and continuously regulates the exact addition rate of the masterbatch into the natural polymer stream. However, you can also manually calculate and weigh the required quantity of masterbatch, blending it cleanly by hand or via an industrial tumble mixer prior to introducing the combined material into the machine hopper. Masterbatch requires the action of a screw to disperse in the polymer making it unsuitable for some moulding machine types.