Material
Masterbatch
Answer in brief
Masterbatch is dosed at a few percent, which means a small error in the feeder is a large error in the product.
Colour deviation and additive underdosing both show up in the finished part, and overdosing simply burns money.
- Use gravimetric dosing and verify it against consumption.
- Plan changeover, because colour carryover is the usual complaint.
- Convey gently, since granules abrade and dust affects dosing.
Reviewed October 21, 2026 · Updated October 21, 2026
Handling challenges
Masterbatch is a small stream with a large effect, so the engineering attention goes to accuracy and changeover rather than to capacity.
Dosing accuracy
At two percent addition, a five percent feeder error is a ten percent colour deviation in the part.
- Gravimetric feeders with regular calibration rather than volumetric screws.
- Stable inlet conditions, since a surging refill upsets the weigh signal.
- Consumption reconciliation per batch as an independent check.
Changeover and carryover
Residual pigment in hoppers, hoses and feeders appears in the next product, and dark colours are visible at very low concentrations.
Quick-release hoppers, smooth internals and a defined purge procedure make a colour change a planned step rather than a gamble.
Conveying
Granules abrade in high velocity lines, and the resulting dust changes both dosing behavior and part appearance.
Short, low velocity vacuum conveying from the container directly to the feeder is usually the cleanest arrangement.
Drying
Carriers based on hygroscopic polymers need drying like the base resin, and a wet masterbatch produces the same defects as wet resin.
What to establish before buying equipment
- Addition rate range and the accuracy the product demands.
- Number of colour changes per shift.
- Granule size and bulk density per product.
- Whether the carrier requires drying.
Material behavior
- Flowability
- Free flowing granules
- Abrasiveness
- Low to moderate
- Cohesiveness
- Low
- Moisture behavior
- Some carriers are hygroscopic and need drying
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