Why AURA® Color Infusion Technology for Plastic Parts May Be Right For Your Next Project

Why Use AURA® Color Infusion Technology?
Now you can apply color to one - or a million and one - plastic parts with the patented AURA® color infusion technology process. This post-molding coloring technology offers several benefits, especially for applications that need to be produced in a number of colors.

Since color is infused into parts made from clear, translucent or opaque resins, you can reduce inventory of pre-colored resins or colored parts. The AURA color infusion technology allows true coloration on-demand, adding speed and flexibility to production. Customers control the color process in-house and can make frequent color changes easily.

AURA color infusion technology is ideal for short-run, made-to-order, customized products produced by injection molding or extrusion.


How does the AURA® Color Infusion Process Work?
Equipment can typically be set up in a customer's shop. Color is applied to the molded or extruded parts using a proprietary color infusion technology. The infusion takes place in a heated bath containing a mostly aqueous dispersion of dye and a proprietary, polymer-friendly surfactant. The part is placed in the coloring solution until the desired depth of color is achieved, which can take from a few seconds to a few minutes. The dye penetrates into the part, which eliminates potential rub-off.


For Clear, Translucent or Opaque Engineering Plastic Parts
With AURA color infusion technology, you can add a wide array of bright or subtle colors to plastic parts made of clear, translucent or opaque engineered plastics. AURA adds color, not special effects; however, special effects that are in the part before coloring - such as sparkles or metal flakes - will show thorugh after coloring. Black, white, or light gray colors and metallic special effects cannot be achieved; colors for food-contact applications are not available, however, AURA color infusion technology can be used to color parts for water contact applications.

The AURA color infusion process can be used with parts produced from any of Bayer's line of engineered plastics. But don't expect plain-Jane colors for your Makrolon® polycarbonate or Texin® thermoplastic polyurethane resin. Spring Meadow, Heat Wave and Pacific Cruise are only a few examples of colors that can add character and style to your product. Or create your own custom colors.