Pigment & Additive Selection Guides
Let-down ratio calculator and selection guide.
A quick route from your polymer and process to the right AdCol grade, the let-down ratio to start trials at, and the processing limits to respect.
LDR Calculator
Dosage in seconds.
Work out masterbatch and resin quantities for a batch, or the let-down ratio needed to hit a target pigment or filler level.
LDR calculator
TDS recommendation · MB-W70-PE
- General Packaging Films1.5% – 3.5%
- Liquid & Milk Packaging4.0% – 7.0%
- Injection Moulded Parts1.0% – 2.5%
Result
- Let-down ratio
- 1%
- Masterbatch
- 1 kg
- Natural resin
- 99 kg
- TiO₂ in product
- 0.7%
- 25 kg bags
- 0
Guidance only. Confirm final dosage with a line trial; gauge, wall thickness and target properties all matter.
Selection Guide
By process and polymer.
Starting points drawn from each grade's TDS. Our lab will fine-tune for your line.
Blown Film
LDPE · LLDPE · HDPE
Extrusion Pipe
HDPE · LLDPE
Injection
HDPE · PP Copolymer
Blow Moulding
HDPE
Raffia Tape
PP Homopolymer
Processing Parameters
Limits worth respecting.
| Grade | Heat stability | Processing limits | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| MB-W70-PE | 280°C (5 min dwell) | Moisture ≤ 0.12%; FPV < 0.8 bar/g | Dry, ambient < 35°C; 12-month shelf life |
| MB-BLK40-AG | 280°C (5 min dwell) | Hygroscopic: reseal bags; pre-dry long-stored stock | Dry storage; controlled extruder temperatures |
| MB-ADD-SAB | 260°C | Keep melt below 250°C to protect fatty acid amides | Below 30°C, dry, to prevent slip sintering |
| CP-CA80-PE | 300°C | Above 25% loading: adjust feed zone +5°C to 10°C, lower die | Moisture-proof lined PP woven sacks |
| MB-CLR-CUSTOM | 240°C – 300°C (pigment dependent) | Set per shade during matching | 25 kg moisture-barrier bags |
Organic or inorganic pigments?
Inorganic pigments bring opacity, heat stability and weather resistance. Organic pigments give brighter, cleaner shades at lower loadings but need checking against your process temperature and outdoor exposure. We balance both when matching a color.
Carbon black for UV protection
UV protection in black pipe and film depends on fine particle size, full dispersion and enough active carbon. That is why MB-BLK40-AG pairs 20 nm carbon black with a dispersion rating of 2 or better, dosed to deliver 2.0% – 2.5% in drip laterals.
FAQ
Let-down ratio, worked out.
What is the let-down ratio formula?
LDR (%) = target active content in the product ÷ active content of the masterbatch × 100. For 2.5% carbon black from a 40% masterbatch: 2.5 ÷ 40 × 100 = 6.25%. For 2% TiO₂ from a 70% white masterbatch: 2 ÷ 70 × 100 ≈ 2.9%.
How much masterbatch goes into a 25 kg or 100 kg batch?
Multiply the batch weight by the LDR. At 3%, a 100 kg batch takes 3 kg of masterbatch and 97 kg of natural resin, and a 25 kg batch takes 0.75 kg of masterbatch and 24.25 kg of resin.
Where should a line trial start?
Inside the TDS range for your application, for example 1.5% – 3.5% of MB-W70-PE in general packaging film or 1.0% – 2.0% of MB-ADD-SAB in monolayer blown film. Move up for thinner gauges or higher opacity targets, then confirm on your line.
Is a let-down ratio the same as a masterbatch mixing ratio?
Usually, but check the notation. A percentage LDR is the masterbatch share of the total blend, so 2% means 2 kg in 100 kg. A ratio written 1:50 normally means 1 part masterbatch to 50 parts resin, which is about 1.96%, and 100:1 (100 parts resin to 1 part masterbatch) is about 0.99%.
Free Sample
Have a line trial coming up? Let's match the grade to it.
Send your polymer, process and target let-down. Our Rajkot lab confirms the grade and dispatches a sample or a 5 – 25 kg trial lot.