POLYMERIC MATERIALS

• US 20100044897A1
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ColorMatrix Holdings, Inc. (Avient Corp.)
• Original Assignee: ColorMatrix Holdings, Inc. (Avient Corp.)
• Inventors: Chisnall, David Andrew, Frost, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,372,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/40.100
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/84 Mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g. paint tins
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/8442 using a computer for controlling information and converting it in a formula and a set of operation instructions, e.g. on the point of sale
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/846 using stored recipes for determining the composition of the mixture to be produced, i.e. for determining the amounts of the basic components to be dispensed from the component receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/20 Measuring; Control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2131 Colour or luminescence
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/002 Methods chemical aspects C08J3/00

Abstract

A part may be manufactured in a desired colour from virgin or recycled polymeric material by selection of a colour formulation to be used in a first location 4, 6, 8, 10, 12; relaying colour information to a centralised match prediction system 16 as regards the desired colour and other information concerning a polymeric material which is to be made in the desired colour. The system 16 includes a database and associated software and is able to take the colour information and predict how to reproduce the colours using an associated colour dispense system. A device 30 controls dispense stations 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40 which may be conveniently situated at customer sites or the like. The dispense stations dispense colours for use.

Claims

1. A method of selecting a non-volatile colour formulation for manufacturing, in a selected colour, a part comprising a polymeric material, the method comprising the following steps:

(i) at a first location, determining colour information relating to a desired colour for the polymeric material;

(ii) communicating colour information determined in step (i) to a second location;

(iii) at the second location, determining one or more colour formulations for delivery into a polymeric material to match or closely match the desired colour;

(iv) delivering information relating to the colour formulation(s) determined in step (iii) to an assessment location for assessment;

(v) optionally repeating step (iii) to determine one or more additional colour formulations for delivery into the polymeric material to match or closely match the desired colour;

(vi) the selection of a colour formulation for use in the manufacture of the part.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric material is a thermoplastic polymeric material.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said non-volatile colour formulation comprises a non-volatile carrier and one or more pigments or dyes.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the colour formulation is for use in manufacturing a coloured part comprising a polymeric material in a process that comprises heating a mixture of a said colour formulation and polymeric material to allow the mixture to be shaped to define the part.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein in step (i) of the method, colour information is determined by selecting an identifier of a colour in accordance with a defined colour system or a colour spectrum of the desired colour is determined.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein in step (i), the desired colour is determined spectrophotometrically to determine said colour information.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein in step (iii), said one or more colour formulations is selected having regard to one or more of the following variables, in addition to the variable of colour information:

(a) the identity of the polymer into which the colour formulation is to be incorporated;

(b) the grade of polymer into which the colour formulation is to be incorporated;

(c) the processing conditions to which the polymer into which the colour formulation is to be incorporated will be subjected;

(d) the use and/or requirements of the part for which the colour formulation is to be selected;

(e) country of use.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein, in step (ii), information is communicated to the second location relating to the identity of the polymer into which the colour formulation is to be incorporated.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric material is a recycled polymeric material and the method includes determining colour information relating to the recycled polymeric material before step (iii).

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the identity of the intended user of the selected colour is determined at the first location and information relating thereto is communicated to the second location.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein a computing means is provided in said second location which is arranged to receive information determined in step (i) and determine a match or close match of the desired colour, said computing means including a database which comprises information relating to the spectra in the visible region of each of a plurality of base colour formulations.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said computing means includes information relating to properties and/or effects of said base colour formulations when incorporated into different types of polymeric materials.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said computing means includes means for determining the effect of adding a mixture of a plurality or multiplicity of base colour formulations at different concentrations into a polymeric material.

15. A method according to claim 9, wherein, in step (iii), a plurality of colour formulations for delivery into a polymeric material are determined.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein in step (iv), information delivered includes information relating to the differences between the colour obtainable and the desired colour.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein means is provided at said assessment location to enable a display of the actual colour obtainable in a part if manufactured using the colour formulation in relation to which information has been delivered.

18. A method according to claim 1, wherein in the assessment location, a person may assess information relating to the colour or colours obtainable with a view to selecting a colour formulation for use in manufacturing the part.

28. A method of manufacturing a part comprising a polymeric material in a predetermined colour, the method comprising incorporating a colour formulation selected in a method according to claim 1 into a polymeric material and forming a mixture of colour formulation and polymeric material into said part in an extrusion or injection moulding process.

7. (canceled)

19. An arrangement for selecting a non-volatile colour formulation for manufacturing, in a selected colour, a part comprising a polymeric material, the arrangement comprising:

(a) at a first location, means for determining colour information relating to a desired colour for the polymeric material;

(b) at a second location, remote from said first location, means for receiving information from said first location and determining one or more colour formulations for delivery into a polymeric material to match or closely match the desired colour;

(c) at an assessment location providing means for assessing a colour obtainable as determined at said second location; and

(d) means for selecting a colour formulation for use in the manufacture of the part.

20. An arrangement according to claim 19, wherein a spectrophotometer is provided at the first location for determining colour information.

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

24. A method of manufacturing colour formulations in a plurality of separate locations, the method comprising providing respective colour dispense systems in said plurality of locations, wherein each said colour dispense system comprises a multiplicity of base colour formulations arranged to be dispensed in predetermined amounts into a receptacle;

and

communicating information to locations in which said colour formulations are to be manufactured relating to the amounts of base colour formulations to be dispensed, said information being communicated to said locations from a single computing means.

25. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

27. (canceled)