ENGINEERING TECH TIPS | 4 APRIL 2025
Transparency in Thermoplastics
Tech Tips from Our Engineers at Bamberger Amco Polymers
Optical Properties of Thermoplastics
Many factors affect the transparency and clarity of thermoplastic materials. Their impact is quantified in properties like haze, gloss, refraction, and light transmission.
Common terms for optical indicators in thermoplastics include:
- Transparent Material - This material type's physical properties let light pass through without much scattering. An observer can see clearly through it.
- Translucent Material - This material's physical properties let light pass through, but in different scattered directions. This creates a blurred or diffused visual effect.
- Opaque Material - These materials don't let any light pass through them. Objects behind them are practically invisible to a viewer.
Factors that Can Influence Thermoplastic Opacity
- Fillers and Additives
- Plastic Thickness
- Clarifiers and Nucleating Agents
- Masterbatch Coloring
Measuring Polymer Opacities
A polymer's opacity measurements can be calculated through direct observation, using mathematical equations to quantify the light that's passing through it.
Alternately, devices like spectrophotometers (and similar tools) quickly capture light transmission data as well as an object's haze and tint values.
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