The colour matched perfectly. Then the surface dulled, the part lost strength, or the process turned unstable. When a masterbatch causes trouble, the pigment is usually innocent — the carrier is the part that did not fit.
The problem
A masterbatch is chosen on pigment and shade, the colour comes out right, but something else gets worse: surface quality, mechanical properties or processing stability. The colour was never the issue — the carrier was.
Why it happens
A masterbatch is pigment carried in a polymer base (the carrier). That carrier has to live inside your polymer matrix, and they are not automatically compatible:
- Carrier vs matrix — a PE or PP carrier in a PA, PBT or TPU matrix can be immiscible — causing haze, weak spots or delamination.
- 'Universal' carriers — convenient, but not truly universal; they still have limits in demanding matrices.
- Dosage — under- or over-dosing shifts both colour and mechanics.
- Processing temperature — carrier and matrix need compatible melt behaviour.
How to get it right
Check the masterbatch as a material decision, not just a colour one:
- Carrier compatibility — match the carrier to your matrix (a PA carrier for PA, and so on) where performance matters.
- Dosage & let-down ratio — follow and verify the recommended ratio.
- Processing temperature — confirm carrier and matrix share a workable window.
- Matrix effect, not just colour — test surface and mechanics, not only the shade.
Key takeaway
A masterbatch is a material, not just a colour. Match the carrier to your polymer matrix and check dosage and temperature — the right pigment on the wrong carrier will still spoil the part.
Get the carrier right, and the colour is the easy part.
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