Effect Masterbatch for Ski Bindings

New applications, new features, and ever-changing designs—the sports segment is constantly seeing fresh trends, in which color schemes very often play a decisive role. As plastics specialists, we are continually challenged by designers and faced with exciting challenges regarding structural design and color schemes. A recent example involving ski bindings demonstrates how ROWA Masterbatch competently tackles such a demanding task.

When a plastic part is to be colored using a masterbatch in accordance with design specifications, the material properties and the functional properties of the component are closely linked: This is because, in such cases, a color masterbatch acts as an additive in a natural-colored high-performance compound and interacts with the other components in the formulation. If the potential effects of this interaction are not taken into account, it can result in significant losses in the mechanical properties of the plastic being used.

Long-fiber-reinforced materials, known as LFT, are particularly important in this field. Within this material group, the LEHVOSS Group—a specialist in custom-engineered high-performance materials—offers the option of coloring components with its natural-colored LUVOCOM LFT—and this is where ROWA Masterbatch comes into play: In close collaboration with the LEHVOSS Group and the end customer, the color development, evaluation, and testing of the component properties were carried out. A key consideration in the masterbatch development was preserving the outstanding properties of an LFT. To achieve this, specialized knowledge and meticulous care in the selection of carrier materials, colorants, and other components are of great importance.

ROWA Masterbatch and the LEHVOSS Group work closely together in this area and have developed an effective system for customers in which testing of material properties follows color adjustment, in order to provide the highest possible level of application reliability.

The collaboration between the two companies for their customer, MARKER Deutschland GmbH, impressively demonstrates how well ROWA Masterbatch and the LEHVOSS Group work together to develop a polymer-specific, custom color masterbatch: MARKER, the world-renowned ski binding manufacturer, is considered the inventor of the modern ski binding and is a leader in the fields of alpine and ski touring bindings. MARKER sets the standard for quality and, accordingly, has high expectations for its components—not only in terms of purely technical functionality but also in terms of aesthetics, as these play a key role in the purchasing decision. And so these were the requirements for the components of a new ski touring binding: MARKER wanted a masterbatch developed that, when exposed to sunlight, would create an effect reminiscent of the glistening of snow—an interesting challenge for the colorists at ROWA Masterbatch as well as for the product developers of the LUVOCOM LFT material used.

Drawing on its comprehensive understanding of the LUVOCOM LFT material—in this case, a high-impact PA66-LGF—ROWA Masterbatch has developed a product that has virtually no effect on the mechanical properties. For this application, impact strength and low-temperature impact strength are of paramount importance.

Technical functionality and striking aesthetics—thanks to an understanding of the properties color masterbatches must possess for use in long-fiber materials, the collaboration between ROWA Masterbatch and the LEHVOSS Group has succeeded in meeting MARKER’s customer requirements in the best possible way. At the same time, this result is just one example of the many potential applications for polymer-specific masterbatches in sports and outdoor products, which are capable of meeting the most demanding requirements.