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Researchers are on their way to developing a mechanochromic helmet that could serve to alert athletes to potential brain trauma. Image Source: Flickr user Erik Drost

Once in a while, new innovations remind us of the extraordinary potential of color technology. That was the case recently when a group of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania developed a dynamic new material designed to produce color shifts when hit with certain levels of force. By applying mechanochromism—the ability to change color in response to mechanical stimuli—to protective headgear, the color-shifting material could immediately detect possible injury and alert users to seek treatment. At a time of heightened concern regarding traumatic head injury as the result of amateur and professional sports, combat, and other dangerous activities, this innovative application of the mechanochromic phenomena presents new possibilities for early interventions that could ultimately save lives.1

Establishing the relationship between force of impact and potential for brain injury is the next step in making mechanochromic helmets reality. Image Source: Flickr user Allan Ajifo

Polymer additives have improved the use of plastics in manufacturing and created new innovations solutions with the use of these materials. Image Source: Flickr user Kevin Dooley (CC BY 2.0)

After a recent trip to the store, which yielded plastic bags filled with plastic packages—containing plastic toys, lights, and dinnerware—I’ve become fairly convinced that plastics are taking over the world. Polymer is the material of the future.

The Packaging Science University of Florida explains the reason for this market trend best, stating that “improvements in polymer performance have opened the door for new and innovative ways of production. Numerous additives provide processing and manufacturing performance improvements; others allow materials to have an assortment of enhanced properties”1. Polymer additives are expanding the use of plastics in manufacturing and are the key ingredient in innovative design.

But the color analysis of plastic and polymer additives also plays a significant role the development of new products. With advancements in spectrophotometric technology, we have seen a huge improvement in the use and functionality of polymer additives across the industry.

Understanding the chemical composition of plastics is important for safety and reusability. Image Source: Flickr user Bradley Gordon

Plastic is something that most of us use every day, but we rarely stop to think about where these materials come from. The chemical composition of plastic plays an important role in product safety and recyclability, yet most of us take that for granted. Understanding the chemical composition of plastics can make a difference in post-consumer reusability, recycling, and product safety. With advancements in spectrophotometric technology and more portable instrumentation options, we now have the ability to accurately identify the chemical composition in plastics and differentiate specific materials to filter out hazardous materials.

Creating color harmony in car interiors is essential to optimizing aesthetic appeal. Image Source: Unsplash user Sean DuBois

In today’s rapidly evolving automotive industry, consumers are given options few ever dreamed of only a few years ago. Cars are now the sites of some of the most innovative technologies available. They are bringing performance and safety to extraordinary new heights and even transforming what we imagine cars to be. While we marvel at unprecedented performance and are comforted by advances in safety, aesthetics remain a critical component of automotive appeal. In fact, a 2014 study by AutoTrader on how consumers choose new cars found that it was “appearance more than anything else that appealed to participants.”

Color harmony in car interiors may not be the first thing consumers think of when considering the aesthetic appeal. In fact, interior color matching is largely taken for granted precisely because car manufacturers have become so successful at achieving it. But when interior car components don’t match, consumers notice. Not only does this disrupt aesthetic appeal, it can also call into question the overall quality of the car; if a manufacturer has failed to get the basics right, what else have they missed? As such, it is imperative to seek out the best possible color measurement tools to ensure accurate color matching.

With hundreds of parts manufactured around the globe, ensuring color harmony can be challenging. Image Source: Unsplash user Nathan Lindahl

The color of plastics plays a critical role in both aesthetic appeal and practical functionality. Image Source: Pexels user Pixabay

Plastics have changed the course of human history. From cars, to film, to electrification, plastics have been essential to the development of revolutionary products and have shaped the way we live, work, and play.1 Renowned for their durability, longevity, and versatility, plastics are now integrated into a virtually endless number of industrial and consumer goods.

Part of what makes plastics so attractive has been their ability to take on a broad spectrum of hues. Indeed, the color of plastics is vital to ensuring both aesthetic appeal and practical functionality.2  As such, color accuracy and consistency are among the most important aspects of plastic manufacturing, and spectrophotometers must therefore play a central role in the production process. However, just as plastics themselves have advanced over the years, so too have spectrophotometric technologies. While spectrophotometric color measurement of plastics was once only possible via period manual sampling, on-line instruments are now revolutionizing how color is monitored within the production line. The benefits of on-line spectrophotometers include not only a higher level of quality control, but also improved efficiency of manufacturing and reduced production costs.

Of course, not all on-line spectrophotometers are created equal. HunterLab’s SpectraTrend HT represents the most advanced on-line instrumentation available, offering unmatched versatility and performance in a user-friendly design. By combining continuous, non-contact color assessment with integrated height measurement, the SpectraTrend HT allows you to capture reliable color data from even non-uniform and textured samples without manual sample prep. As such, this innovative spectrophotometer provides solutions to a number of important color challenges faced by the plastics industry, paving the way for better color quality control and enhanced manufacturing practices.

Maintaining color consistency within and between batches is essential to producing the highest quality products. Image Source: Unsplash user Iker Urteaga

Composite deck material is growing in popularity with improved color retention and durability, making the competition in this market grow. Image Source: Flickr’ Fiberon

Over 15 years ago, my husband and I installed a beautiful cedar deck. That first year it looked perfect; we painstakingly added several coats of stain to protect the surface and bring out the natural wood grains and colors. However, over the years this process had to be repeated again and again, with the tedious effort of removing old stain and sanding the surface clean to start fresh. Now, a decade and a half later, despite all our hard labor, the years have taken their toll and it is time for a replacement. These days, I am much more savvy on the costs of staining, stripping and sanding, not to mention the hours of time that maintenance of real wood consumes. So this time around we are strongly considering composite decking to reduce to labor and cost later on down the road..

Composite decking has come a long way over the past several decades. In the early days of production, color quality in composite deck material was limited and did not hold up well to the natural elements. Fading and degradation were often apparent, diminishing the popularity of these building materials. But despite these initial challenges, the sustainability of composite decking technology still held promise for the future and new industry competition quickly stepped up to the plate. These manufacturers found ways to improve the plastic composite material by using advanced instrumentation to monitor color and quality throughout the production process. Today, modern composite deck companies offer a variety of products with the look and feel of their real wood alternatives. As a result, sales of composite materials have skyrocketed, with last years sales topping the $1 billion mark1. With sales continuing to grow, manufactures are looking for new ways to improve the color stability and quality of their building materials in order to stay competitive in this expanding industry.

Developing color tolerances is necessary for color quality and repeatability. Advance color measurement instrumentation simplifies this process. Image Source: Flickr’ user Russ Koetz

“Hey, Kayla?” says Levon into the phone.  “I’m sorry to do this again, but I have to stay late at the plant. I won’t be home for another couple of hours.” In the reflected glare of the overhead fluorescent lights, the break room stands in harsh relief. In the corner sits the aging refrigerator, the plastic chairs, and the plastic table. On the walls hang laminated safety posters, and the clock. “I know, I know,” says Levon. “I’m sorry. I was looking forward to the chicken parm. I can heat it up when I get back. There’s nothing I can do. Hyundai sent our tail lights back. I guess they were the wrong red. Now we need to make new ones. At least it’s some overtime, right? Right? Okay, yeah, you’re right. Look, I gotta go. I’m not supposed to be on break and they’ll write me up. I’ll be home as soon as I can, okay? I promise. I love you. Okay, bye.” He hangs up the phone. The clock ticks. Levon sighs and opens the door to the factory floor.

The color of tail lights, brake lights, and blinkers are mandated by federal law. Image Credit: Flickr User Sarah Marshall (CC BY 2.0)