Applications of Colorimeters in Plastic and Polymers Industry

Overview

The plastic and polymers industry encompasses the production, processing, and utilization of a diverse range of synthetic materials known as polymers. These materials, derived from petrochemical sources, undergo various processes like polymerization, extrusion, molding, and more to create a wide array of products. Plastics and polymers find applications across numerous sectors including packaging, automotive, construction, healthcare, electronics, and consumer goods. These versatile materials offer benefits such as durability, lightweight, customization, and affordability, driving innovation and efficiency in modern manufacturing and design. However, the industry also faces challenges related to environmental sustainability and waste management due to the non-biodegradable nature of many plastics. Efforts towards developing bioplastics, recycling technologies, and sustainable practices are being made to mitigate these concerns and shape the future of the plastic and polymers industry.

Depending on specific features and functions, GAO Tek’s Colorimeters are sometimes referred to as color measurement devices, spectrophotometers, chromameters, color analyzers, color testing instruments, color assessment tools, color detection devices, hue meters, shade analyzers, color matching devices, spectro densitometers, color evaluation instruments, chromaticity meters, color comparators, colorimeters and photometers (these terms are often used interchangeably), color inspection equipment, color quality control devices, color verification instruments, spectral colorimeters, color assessment devices.

GAO Tek’s Colorimeters have the following applications in plastic and polymers:

Quality Control and Consistency: Colorimeters are extensively used in the plastics and polymers industry to ensure consistent color and appearance of finished products. By measuring color values accurately, manufacturers can maintain uniformity across batches, leading to higher quality products and reduced waste.
Material Identification: Colorimeters can aid in identifying different types of plastics and polymers based on their color profiles. This is particularly useful for sorting and recycling processes, where accurate material identification is crucial for efficient recycling practices.
Color Matching and Formulation: When producing plastic or polymer products with specific color requirements, colorimeters are employed to match the desired color precisely. This is vital in industries like automotive, consumer goods, and packaging, where consistent branding and aesthetics are important.
Research and Development: Colorimeters are valuable tools for researchers and developers in the plastics and polymers field. They help in studying the effects of additives, pigments, and processing conditions on the color and appearance of materials, enabling the creation of new and improved products.
Troubleshooting and Quality Assurance: In case of color discrepancies or defects, colorimeters can quickly identify the issue and assist in troubleshooting production processes. This aids in identifying the source of problems and implementing corrective measures promptly.
Aesthetics and Consumer Preferences: Color is a critical factor in consumer buying decisions. Colorimeters enable manufacturers to tailor products to meet consumer preferences and market trends, ensuring that products are visually appealing and competitive.
Regulatory Compliance: Some industries, like food packaging, have strict regulations regarding the color of materials used. Colorimeters help in ensuring compliance with these regulations and standards.
Colorfastness Testing: Plastics and polymers exposed to environmental factors like UV radiation can experience color fading. Colorimeters are used to test colorfastness and predict how materials will hold up under real-world conditions.

More information on Colorimeters and their applications in other industries can be found on this page

Environmental Colorimeters.

This category page lists related products

Environmental Test Instruments.

GAO Tek’s targeted markets are North America, particularly the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe. Hence, in addition to English, this website gaotek.com is offered in other major languages of North America and Europe such as Spanish, French, German, Italian, Polish, Ukrainian, Romanian, Russian, Dutch, Turkish, Greek, Hungarian, Swedish, Czech, Portuguese, Serbian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Slovak, Catalan, Lithuanian, Bosnian, Galician, Slovene, Latvian, Estonian, Welsh, Icelandic, and Irish.

Complying with Plastic and Polymers Standards

GAO Tek’s Colorimeters comply or help our customers comply with the standards such as

ASTM D6290
ASTM D2244
ASTM E308
ISO 7724
ISO 11664
CIE Lab* color space
CIE 1931 Standard Observer
CIE 1976 Lab* color difference formula (ΔE)
Hunter Lab color space
Gardner Color Scale

Complying with Government Regulations

GAO Tek’s Colorimeters comply or help our customers comply with the U.S. government regulations such as:

ASTM E1164
ASTM E1347
ASTM D2244
ASTM E308
ANSI/ISEA 107
ANSI/ISEA 207
ANSI/ISEA 101

GAO Tek’s Colorimeters comply or help our clients comply with the Canadian regulations such as:

ASTM E1164
ASTM E1347
ASTM D2244
ISO 11664
CSA Z96 CSA Z460

GAO Tek’s Colorimeters comply or help our clients comply with the Mexican regulations such as:

NOM-008-SCFI-2002
NMX-A-106-1980
NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010
NOM-147-SEMARNAT/SSA1-2004
NOM-010-STPS-2014
NOM-113-STPS-2009

GAO Tek’s Colorimeters comply or help our clients comply with the European regulations such as:

ISO 7724 – Paints and Varnishes
ISO 11664 – Colorimetry
CIE Publication No. 15:2004 – Colorimetry
EN 20471 – High-Visibility Clothing
EN 13758 – Solar UV Protective Clothing
EN 15025 – Protective Clothing Against Heat and Flame
EN ISO 20471 – High-Visibility Clothing – Test Methods and Requirements
REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 – Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals

Case Studies of Colorimeters in Plastic and Polymers

Colorimeters are sometimes called color measurement devices, spectrophotometers, chromameters, color analyzers, color testing instruments, color assessment tools, color detection devices, hue meters, shade analyzers, color matching devices, spectro densitometers, color evaluation instruments, chromaticity meters, color comparators, colorimeters and photometers (these terms are often used interchangeably), color inspection equipment, color quality control devices, color verification instruments, spectral colorimeters, color assessment devices.

Here are some practical examples of using Colorimeters in plastic and polymers:

Quality Control and Consistency in a plastic packaging company implements colorimeters to ensure that the color of their products remains consistent across different production batches. By using colorimeters to measure and match colors accurately, they reduce the chances of color discrepancies and maintain a high level of product quality.

Material Formulation and Development in polymer research institute uses colorimeters to evaluate the impact of various additives and processing conditions on the color of newly developed polymer materials. This data helps them optimize material formulations for specific applications, such as automotive interiors or consumer electronics.

Recycling Process Optimization for a plastics recycling facility employs colorimeters to sort and categorize recycled plastics based on their color properties. This enables them to efficiently separate plastics and produce high-quality recycled materials that meet industry color standards.

Regulatory Compliance for manufacturers of food-contact plastics utilizes colorimeters to ensure that their products adhere to regulatory requirements for color additives used in food packaging. This helps them meet safety standards and avoid potential regulatory issues.

Customization for Consumer Preferences for toy manufacturers uses colorimeters to create plastic toys with vibrant and appealing colors that resonate with their target audience of children. This customization enhances the visual attractiveness of their products.

Automotive Interior Consistency for automotive parts supplier employs colorimeters to ensure that plastic components used in car interiors, such as dashboard panels and trim, have consistent coloration across different manufacturing lots. This maintains the overall visual harmony of the vehicle interior.

Medical Device Manufacturing company producing medical devices made from plastic uses colorimeters to ensure that the color of their products aligns with the sterile and professional image required in healthcare settings.

Architectural and Construction Applications for manufacturer of plastic building materials utilizes colorimeters to ensure that plastic components, such as window frames and exterior panels, match the desired architectural aesthetic of construction projects.

Textile and Apparel Industry employs colorimeters to ensure that the colors of their materials remain consistent, allowing fashion designers and garment manufacturers to maintain uniformity in their products.

Consumer Electronics for plastic casings industry uses colorimeters to achieve precise color matching, ensuring that the plastic components of devices like smartphones and laptops have a consistent and appealing appearance.

GAO RFID Inc. , a sister company of GAO Tek Inc., is ranked as a top 10 RFID suppliers in the world. Its RFID, BLE, and IoT products have also been widely used in plastic and polymers.

Manufacturing Industry | RFID Solutions

RFID Systems By Industry

Use of Colorimeters with Leading Software and Cloud Services in Plastic and Polymers

GAO Tek has used or has facilitated its customers to use GAO’s Colorimeters with some of the leading software and cloud services in their applications. Examples of such leading software and cloud services include.

Moldflow
SOLIDWORKS Plastics
Polyflow
Ansys Polyflow
MATERIALISE Magics
C-MOLD
SIMULIA Abaqus
Moldex3D
SIGMASOFT
Moldex3D eDesign
Moldex3D RIM
WinSim Inc. POLYMATH
Paulson Interactive Training
CoolSim
Autodesk Fusion 360
Granta Design CES Selector
Plastics Insight
Brüel & Kjær Pulse Reflex Polymer
MoldTrax
RJG eDART System

More information on Colorimeters and their applications in other industries can be found on this page

Environmental Colorimeters.

This category page lists related products

Environmental Test Instruments.

Meeting Customers’ Demands

Large Choice of Products
In order to satisfy the diversified needs of their corporate customers, GAO Tek Inc. and its sister company GAO RFID Inc. together offer a wide choice of testing and measurement devices, network products, RFID, BLE, IoT, and drones.

Fast Delivery
To shorten the delivery to our customers, GAO has maintained a large stock of its products and is able to ship overnight within the continental U.S. and Canada, and fast delivery to Mexico and Europe from the nearest warehouse.

Local to Our Customers
We are located in both the U.S. and Canada. We travel to customers’ premises if necessary. Hence, we provide a very strong local support to our customers in North America, particularly the U.S., Canada and Mexico and Europe. Furthermore, we have built partnerships with some integrators, consulting firms and other service providers in different cities to further strengthen our services. Here are some of the service providers Plastic and polymers we have worked with to serve our joint customers:

IQMS
BLOW Molding Controls
Siemens PLM Software
Sigma Plastic Services
Plastics Touchpoint Group
iMFLUX (A Procter & Gamble Company)
RJG, Inc.
EPIC Systems
Compuplast International Inc.
Piovan Group
Plastics Visions
Paulson Training Programs
Siemens Canada
Cimquest Inc.
Enventive Engineering
Simcon kunststofftechnische Software GmbH
CAE Services Corporation
Delcam (now part of Autodesk)
Dalau Inc.
Polycontrols Technologies Inc.
Grupo Alianza Estrategica
SYSCON
INCOPLAST
PLASHERN
PLASPOINT
UMBRALES
Polymers Technology Center
Quantum Solutions México
IMPULSO
Cadmould
Simcon Software GmbH
Creaform Engineering
Moldex3D Europe
SIGMA Engineering GmbH
Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence
Additive Innovation
Siemens PLM Software
Kistler Group
Piovan Group

GAO Has Many Customers in Plastic and Polymers

The products from both GAO Tek Inc. and GAO RFID Inc. have been widely used in plastic and polymers by many customers, including some leading companies. Here is more information on the applications of GAO RFID Inc.’s products in plastic and polymers.

Manufacturing Industry | RFID Solutions.

RFID Systems By Industry.

Here are some of the leading companies in Plastic and polymers: