At a time when it is critical to many plastics processors to add value to products, colorants are an essential part of the additives repertoire. Colour has become increasingly important over the years as product appearance and appeal to consumers have become major elements in the packaging and marketing of wide ranges of goods, from cosmetics to cars. There are two types of colorants in use: dyes and pigments. Pigments are insoluble and must be adequately dispersed in the plastic to achieve a uniform colour. This can be a problem in very thin mouldings where particle agglomerates are highly visible. Dyes are soluble in plastics and give a more transparent finish. Health, safety and environmental issues have brought about changes in the market place as manufacturers strive to meet national and international regulations. Factors to consider in colourant selection include the presence of heavy metal compounds, migration of colorants into food or packaged goods (contamination issues), toxicity in fire, etc. There are many functional considerations when selecting colorants. For example, many plastics are processed at very high temperatures and shear, and products are exposed to heat and light. The colorants must tolerate these conditions to function adequately. The basic pigments and dyes used to achieve different colour effects at different performance levels are described in this review. The economics of different colourant types are outlined. There have been developments across the colour spectrum and in the field of special effects. Manufacturers are looking at ways to eliminate cadmium and lead pigments and to improve existing products, for example by coating pigment particles to improve compatibility with plastics and aid dispersion. They are also experimenting with new chemicals as colorants and there is scope for an increased range of products

particularly in the yellow region. Special effect colorants are being used to generate effects such as fluorescence, phosphorescence, pearlescence and holographics. These are relatively expensive products, are often difficult to process and many are used for specialist niche applications. These issues are discussed and referenced in this new review. Overall, this is a very well written, clear review of the subject of colorants for plastics. It is based on practical information for plastics processors with regard to colourant selection and the range of products and effects available. References are included throughout the review for further reading and key manufacturers of colorants are listed where relevant. The review is accompanied by around 400 abstracts from the Polymer Library, to facilitate further reading on this subject. Key features…; Common colorants; Developments in colorants; Special effects; Practical information. Save 20% when you buy 2 or more titles in the Rapra Review Report Series (Volume 9 onwards). Just enter promotional code RRR20 when you get to the shopping cart. Please click here to see the full list of reports available.