With the introduction of its pre-coloured Artisan PA6 material, Avient Corporation is cutting out an extra step in the production of plastic products.
As the company’s first material specifically formulated to replace paint, using a pre-coloured thermoplastics offers tangible sustainability benefits over painting plastics: because there is no painting process required, energy use is reduced and VOCs are eliminated.
“Artisan formulations allow our customers to have the look of paint without the hassle, fumes or secondary processing,” said Matt Mitchell, director, global marketing of Specialty Engineered Materials at Avient.
The new Artisan PA6, designed for products for the consumer market, is reportedly the first in a series of high-gloss, scratch-resistant pre-coloured thermoplastics that Avient is working on.
Avient says that parts moulded from this new materials family offer superior scratch resistance compared to painted plastic. Replacing painted metal parts with Artisan materials
also improves corrosion resistance, making outdoor consumer applications such as powersports, lawn and garden, and marine body panels and housings, all suitable candidates for customised Artisan formulations.
“Efficiency meets beauty with this next generation of high performing, pre-coloured solutions,” concluded Mitchell.
The Artisan nylon grade is globally available in a range of customisable colours. Additional paint replacement grades for other key industries are in development.
Avient is the new name of the materials company that was formed when Avient PolyOne and Clariant Masterbatches joined together on 1 July 2020. Avient employs approximately 9,100 associates, is certified ACC Responsible Care and a founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste.