Color and effects in plastic materials

1. A method of determining a recipe for providing a desired colour and a desired effect in a part made from a thermoplastic polymeric material, the method comprising:

(i) providing a group of different effect materials which may be selected for inclusion in the recipe, wherein said group of different effect materials includes no more than twenty members;

(ii) selecting an effect material from said group which is closest to the desired effect;

(iii) directing a match prediction system to use the selected effect material to determine a recipe, wherein the match prediction system determines a recipe based on said selected effect material and colour information relating to the colour to be matched.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said group of different effect materials includes no more than ten members.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said group of different effect materials includes at least four laminar or plate-like pigments and includes fifteen or fewer of said pigments.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said group of different effect materials includes a first silver effect pigment, a first gold effect pigment and a first white effect pigment; and a second silver effect pigment, a second gold effect pigment and a second white effect pigment.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein characteristics of each of said effect materials in said group are included in said match prediction system.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises matching an effect associated with a pre-existing material and comprises analysis of the pre-existing material to determine the effect which needs to be reproduced and to allow selection of an effect material which is closest to the effect which needs to be reproduced from said group.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein there is provided a visual representation of each effect achievable by the match prediction system, and, the method comprises selecting a desired colour to be provided and inputting information relating to the desired colour into the match prediction system.

8. A method according to claim 1 , which comprises, in step (iii), inputting into the system details on the effect material selected from the group.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said match prediction system is programmed so that it must produce a recipe which includes the selected effect material.

10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said match prediction system comprises a computer which is arranged to receive information on an effect selected in step (ii) and colour information and determine a match or close match of the desired colour and effect, wherein said computer includes a database which includes information relating to each of the effect materials included in said group.

11. A method according to claim 10 , wherein said computer includes a database which comprises information relating to a multiplicity of base colour formulations included in a colour dispense system which is arranged to be used to dispense colour formulations.

12. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said match prediction system is provided in a first location and information on an effect selected in step (ii) and colour information is input into a or said computer from a second location which is remote from the first location.

13. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said recipe is communicated to a colour dispense system, the method comprising using said colour dispense system to dispense predetermined amounts of base colour formulations, in accordance with the recipe determined, into a receptacle, wherein associated with the colour dispense system is a collection comprising quantities of each of the effect materials, characteristics of which are included in the match prediction system and/or which are available for selection in the method, said method comprising contacting a fluid formulation which includes one or more colourants dispensed by said colour dispense system with said effect material selected in step (ii) of the method.

14. A method according to claim 13 , wherein after the effect material and fluid formulation which includes one or more colourants have been contacted in a receptacle, mixing means is used to mix the materials and produce a homogenous colour/effect formulation, wherein said mixing means comprises a non-bladed mixer.

15. A method according to claim 1 , wherein a or said colour/effect formulation includes:

10-40 wt % solids of which at least 30 wt % of the solids consist of effect material; and

60-90 wt % of liquid which includes a dispersant, a carrier base and a stabiliser base, wherein said carrier base is arranged to carry and mobilise solids in the formulation and the stabilizer base is arranged to increase the viscosity of the formulation.

16. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:

selection of a recipe determined by said match prediction system and making a sample part using said recipe;

if a sample part is acceptable, the ordering of production quantities of the colour/effect formulation; or

a request for an alternative recipe to be determined or a request for an alternative sample part to be made using a previously determined recipe.

17. A method of determining a recipe for providing a desired colour and a desired effect in a part made from a thermoplastic polymeric material and producing a colour/effect formulation for producing a part comprising a thermoplastic polymeric material, the method comprising:

(i) providing a group of different effect materials which may be selected for inclusion in the recipe;

(ii) selecting an effect material from said group which is closest to the desired effect;

(iii) directing a match prediction system to use the selected effect material to determine a recipe, wherein the match prediction system determines a recipe based on said selected effect material, colour information relating to the colour to be matched and information relating to each base colour formulation included in a colour dispense system;

wherein said match prediction system comprises a computer which includes information relating to each base colour formulation included in said colour dispense system and information relating to each of the effect materials provided in said group of different effect materials;

(iv) communicating said recipe to said colour dispense system in a location which also includes a collection comprising quantities of each of the effect materials, information on which is included in the match prediction system;

(v) producing a colour/effect formulation by dispensing liquids from said colour dispense system and mixing with the selected effect material.

18. A method according to claim 10 , wherein said computer includes information relating to properties and/or effects of said base colour formulations when incorporated into one or more different types of thermoplastic polymeric materials selected from polyesters, polyolefins, styrenic polymers, polycarbonates and polyamides.

19. A method according to claim 17 , wherein said group of different effect materials includes fifteen or fewer laminar or plate-like pigments; and said group of different effect materials includes a first silver effect pigment, a first gold effect pigment, a first white effect pigment; and a second silver effect pigment, a second gold effect pigment and a second white effect pigment.

20. A method of determining a recipe for providing a desired colour and a desired effect in a part made from a thermoplastic polymeric material, the method comprising:

(i) providing a group of different effect materials which may be selected for inclusion in the recipe, wherein said group of different effect materials includes no more than twenty members;

(ii) selecting an effect material from said group which is closest to the desired effect;

(iii) directing a match prediction system to use the selected effect material to determine a recipe, wherein the match prediction system determines a recipe based on said selected effect material and colour information relating to the colour to be matched;

wherein said group of different effect materials includes at least four laminar or plate-like pigments and include fifteen or fewer of said pigments;

wherein said group of different effect materials includes a first silver effect pigment, a first gold effect pigment, a first white effect pigment; and a second silver effect pigment, a second gold effect pigment and a second white effect pigment.