The Author                                                                                                                                                      VII

1 Introduction                                                                                                                                                1

2 Color and Color Measurement                                                                                                             5

2.1 Basics of Color Measurement                                                                                                           8

2.1.1 Spectrophotometer                                                                                                                          9

2.1.2 CIELAB Method                                                                                                                                   9

2.1.3 Influences of Sample Quality and Temperature during Color Measurement [3]       11

3 Plastic Materials                                                                                                                                         13

3.1 History of Development                                                                                                                     13

3.2 Thermoplastic Polymers                                                                                                                     16

3.2.1 Chemical Composition and Material Properties                                                                    18

3.2.1.1 Polyvinyl Chloride                                                                                                                          18

3.2.1.2 Polyolefins                                                                                                                                        18

3.2.1.3 Styrene Polymers and Copolymers                                                                                         19

3.2.1.4 Acrylic Resins                                                                                                                                   19

3.2.1.5 Polyamide                                                                                                                                         20

3.2.1.6 Polycarbonate                                                                                                                                 20

3.2.1.7 Other Thermoplastics                                                                                                                   20

3.3 Bioplastics                                                                                                                                                 23

4 Basics of Colorants                                                                                                                                    27

4.1 General Characteristics                                                                                                                       27

4.2 Colorants                                                                                                                                                  28

4.3 Requirements for Color Preparations                                                                                            31

4.4 Color Index                                                                                                                                              32

5 Colorant Properties and Test Methods                                                                                             33

5.1 Color Strength                                                                                                                                        33

5.2 Transparency/Glaze                                                                                                                              35

5.3 Opacity                                                                                                                                                      35

5.4 Chemical Resistance                                                                                                                             36

5.5 Light Fastness/Weather Fastness                                                                                                   38

5.6 Thermal Resistance                                                                                                                              43

5.7 Migration Fastness                                                                                                                               47

5.8 Shrinkage/Warpage                                                                                                                              49

5.9 Abrasiveness                                                                                                                                           51

5.10 Dispersibility                                                                                                                                         51

5.11 Viscosity Behavior in the Plastic Melt (Melt Flow Index)                                                     53

5.12 Metamerism                                                                                                                                         54

5.13 pH Value                                                                                                                                                 56

5.14 Conductivity                                                                                                                                          56

6 Inorganic Pigments                                                                                                                                   59

6.1 White Pigments                                                                                                                                     65

6.2 Black Pigments                                                                                                               
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