Accurate color measurement is crucial in the production of cables and plastic products. For example, cable color measurement helps manufacturers inspect product quality and ensure that the cable’s color matches design requirements. Plastic manufacturers also need to accurately measure product color to ensure product quality and appearance.
- Cable Color Regulations
: National Standard: Yellow, Green, and Red. Blue represents A, B, C, and N, respectively.
European Standard: Red (L1), Yellow/White (L2), Blue (L3), Black (Neutral), Green/Yellow (Ground).
Future standard colors: Brown (L1), Black (L2), Gray (L3), Blue (Neutral), Green/Yellow (Ground).
For a three-phase AC circuit, Phase A is yellow; Phase B is green; Phase C is red; the neutral or neutral conductor is light blue; and the ground conductor is both yellow and green. For
AC circuits using two-core or twisted-pair conductors, red and black are used in parallel.
For DC circuits, the positive conductor is brown; the negative conductor is blue.
Permitted conductor markings include black, brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, gray, white, pink, and cyan
. 2. Cable Color Measurement
: With continuous development, the requirements for cable color are becoming increasingly stringent, and visual identification is no longer sufficient. For cables intended for export, color requirements are even stricter.
ΔE refers to the standard deviation in the L*a*b* color space, and its magnitude directly reflects the difference in the human eye’s perception of color. As an important indicator for measuring color difference, a colorimeter can accurately measure the color difference of cables. A colorimeter can measure the Lab value of the optical cable color and calculate the ΔE, ΔL, Δa, and Δb values compared to the standard sample.
ΔE represents the total color difference.
ΔL+ indicates a whiter color, ΔL- indicates a darker color,
Δa+ indicates a reddish color, Δa- indicates a greenish color,
Δb+ indicates a yellowish color, and Δb- indicates a bluish color.
First, measure a reference sample to obtain its color information (L, a, and b values). Then, measure the sample under test to obtain its color information (L, a, and b values). Using the color difference formula, the cable’s color difference can be determined.The instrument can be set to a ΔE difference of 1. If the color difference exceeds 1, the instrument indicates a failure.
3nh colorimeters are widely used in color management in industries such as plastics, printing, paints and inks, textiles, and garment printing and dyeing. Based on the Lab and Lch principles of the CIE color space, they measure and display the deltaE and delta Lab values of the color difference between the sample and the object being tested. They are ideal for both internal and external color evaluation and data management within a company.
The main thing to look at is the deltaE value after comparison with the standard. Generally, a deltae less than 1 or 0 is sufficient, except when high color difference requirements are required.
The Right Color Management Solutions for Your Unique Workflow
Plastic plants have alternative workflows. Extruders encounter challenges that injection molders never face. Global manufacturers of consumer goods differ from specialized Master batchers. They are producing concentrated pigment for the plastic in medical devices.
When choosing the right solution, consider:
- Type of Product: Light and pigment react differently with flexible films, rigid packages, and car components.
- Production Scale: Portable handheld systems might be suitable for small-batch operations. The inline systems are required in high-throughput facilities.
- Automation Needs: Certain companies are fond of complete automatization of inline control. Whereas others adopt a hybrid model by involving digital and manual supervision.
- Colorant Type: Each of the liquid colorants, dry blends, and pre-mixed masterbatches requires specialized supporting tools.
Future Trends in Color Management for Plastics
Digitalization, sustainability, and increased automation of the processes are the future of color management in plastics. Industry 4.0 principles are used in color workflows by manufacturers to ensure they react to the market trends rapidly, and innovate at higher rates. Also, comply with regulatory requirements without compromising on quality.
The advancements empower manufacturers to respond quickly to market trends, innovate faster, and meet regulatory requirements without compromising on quality. Emerging trends include:
- Integration with ERP and MES Systems
When plastic color data is connected to enterprise resource planning (ERP) and manufacturing execution systems (MES), it provides a connected ecosystem. This integration gives the ability to see in real-time KPIs like batch consistency, pigment usage, and production uptime.
It also increases the traceability necessary to pass audits and regulators, which can be crucial in industries such as automotive and the medical device industry.
- Digital Twins
Digital twin technology has been designed to help in the development of virtual prototypes. This shows how the color is going to look on various plastic materials, textures, and lighting settings before any sample is made.
This lowers the costs of prototyping, decreases the development time. It also aids in matching the color performance with the requirements of the customers in a risk-free digital world.
- Remote Color Approvals
Cloud-based systems enable designers, engineers, and QA groups around the world to look at and approve color samples on calibrated displays or digital tools. This simplifies the process of approvals, minimizes the physical movement of samples and increases speed of product launch with accuracy.