News

Ciba, the Swiss chemical company, has introduced a range of anti-yellowing pearlescent surface treatments for plastics at Interpack 2008.

Ciba’s XYMARA XPS pearlescent effects are designed to enhance the appearance and prolong the life of plastic objects, including jars and cosmetic bottles.

The treatment uses varying particle sizes to enable different application requirements to be met: small particles give a gentle, silk-like sheen, while large particles impart stronger, glitter effects.

Nicole End, marketing manager of consumer goods in Ciba’s plastics business line, said: “Conventional mica-based pearl pigments tend to cause yellowing of plastic following exposure to light. We have developed a surface treatment that stabilises pearlescent pigments and inhibits yellowing, adding to the appeal of numerous items and extending their lifetime.”

The Ciba range of pearlescent effects includes silver, gold and bronze.

Ciba is also showing its Colorviz Color Presenter software, which aims to help communication between packaging designers and colour producers.

The 3D software system works on instrumentally measured colours from colour suppliers, allowing CAD design visualisation that takes into account the actual colourants used.