Colour and opacity can be important for material specifications, quality control, comparison of materials or suppliers, and evaluation of changes in packaging appearance.
Testing can be used to:
- Measure and compare colour
- Evaluate opacity and whiteness
- Assess differences between materials, production batches or specifications
- Investigate changes in appearance following material or process changes
Colour can be characterised using CIE L*a*b* measurements.
For plastic materials, opacity and whiteness can be measured as percentage values by comparing the diffuse reflectance of the sample against black and white references. Smithers uses a method based on the Packaging and Industrial Films Association (PIFA) Voluntary Standard 3/79 for plastic opacity testing.
Testing of all of these properties is included in Smithers' Paper Proficiency Service.
Talk to our experts about your plastic material, specification or colour and opacity testing requirements.
