Why MILENA® Color Concentrate Technology for Special Applications May Be Right For Your Next Project

MILENA® color concentrate technology allows replicators and injection molders for the optical media industry to add a variety of colors to compact discs (CDs) and digital versatile discs (DVDs) made of Makrolon® polycarbonate resin.

With this technology, color concentrates are metered directly into the feed throat of the injection molding machine, resulting in a cleaner and more efficient coloring process for CD and DVD media. The color concentrates - themselves made using optical resin - are dye-based and tested prior to use to ensure that they will not interfere with the laser's ability to read the data on the CD or DVD.

MILENA® color concentrate technology is more time-efficient and cost-effective compared to conventional coloring processes because it requires fewer procedures, less equipment and less time. MILENA® color concentrate technology’s innovative process lets you add color to thousands of discs - or just a few. Since color is controlled at the molding machine, changing color batches takes significantly less effort than conventional coloring processes. And customers don't need to order and inventory several different pre-colored resins. Since the colors are added to clear resins, it's also an ideal technology for small runs.

Bayer MaterialScience can address your need for technical support with issues such as uniform mixing, streaks, black specks, and concentrate-handling procedures, enabling us to troubleshoot problems and help our customers achieve better yields.

A frequently asked question is whether the color concentrate has to be dried before use. As the color concentrates are typically used in the range of 10:1 to 20:1, they do not need to be dried prior to use. If the letdown ratio used is less than 10:1, however, drying may be required.