Gloss and reflection haze are vital effects on the appearance of opaque plastics. Spectrophotometers help manufacturers measure these effects to ensure the integrity of all products.
Gloss
Gloss is an element that makes surfaces appear shiny, smooth, and metallic. Many plastic manufacturers use gloss on their products. Quality controllers measure gloss using a gloss meter, which presents a continuous beam of light at a fixed angle on the sample and measures the amount of reflected light in Gloss Units.
Reflection Haze
A high-gloss surface's reflection should be clear and radiant. However, surface faults can cause reflections to appear milky, affecting the product's quality. A benchtop spectrophotometer is one of the best tools for measuring haze in plastic materials. It can measure both colour and haze to provide quantifiable results.
Determine Colour Tolerances
Colour tolerance is the acceptable variations between the target colour and the sample. Establishing colour tolerance is essential in an efficient quality control strategy. Note that a tolerance is more acceptable when the colour difference spreads through the three dimensions (L, a, b).
Spectrophotometers for Colour Measurement of Opaque Plastics
A colour measurement system eliminates subjectivity and enables accurate measurement and communication of colour during production. A spectrophotometer measures the amount of light absorbed or reflected by plastic and displays the output in numerical values. These values represent various colour spaces and indices, such as CIE L*a*b and the Yellowness Index, providing manufacturers with an objective way to monitor the colour of their products.
