Gray Masterbatch

What Is Gray Masterbatch?

Gray Masterbatch is a color concentrate — pigment dispersed in a polymer carrier — used to color plastic parts and films during processing. Allzone supplies Gray Masterbatch across the common carrier resins listed below, in standard and custom concentrations, matched to Pantone or RAL references on request.

For the engineering explanation of what a Color Masterbatch is and how it works, see Color Masterbatch Explained. For deciding which Gray grade fits your part, see W6-GRAY.

Color References

• Pantone (matching only): Pantone Cool Gray 4 C to 11 C, Warm Gray series.
• RAL equivalents (approximate): RAL 7035, 7038, 7040, 7042, 7047.
• On-screen approximations (HEX): #8A8D8F, #A2AAAD, #63666A.

Pantone® is a registered trademark of Pantone LLC. Allzone is not affiliated with or endorsed by Pantone. Color codes are referenced for matching purposes only; on-screen colors are approximations and are not authoritative Pantone standards.

Pigment Families Used in Gray Masterbatch

Blend of Carbon Black + Titanium Dioxide; sometimes iron oxide for warm grays.

The specific pigment index used in your Masterbatch is selected against your host polymer, processing temperature, and end-use exposure. Ask Allzone to disclose the pigment index on the TDS/COA — not just the shade name.

Application note: Gray is a two-pigment blend — control comes from black:white ratio, not from a single 'gray pigment'.

Available Carriers

Allzone supplies Gray Masterbatch on the following carrier resins. Carrier–host compatibility is a hard requirement, not a preference — see Carrier Selection (CT-ART-002).

• Polyolefin carriers: PE, HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, PP.
• Engineering carriers: PET, ABS, PS.
• Universal carrier grades: available for mixed-polymer processing lines (compatibility must be validated per application).

Concentration Options

• Standard concentrations: typical color pigment loading in the Masterbatch is 20–50% depending on pigment family and end-use let-down ratio.
• High-concentration grades: available for cost-sensitive lines running very low let-down ratios.
• Custom concentration: available on request; specify your target let-down ratio and shade depth on the RFQ.

Typical Applications

PP crates, cable ducts, geotextiles, HDPE pipe, appliance housings, PVC profile.

Application depth (which pigment for which process, what to test, what fails) is delegated to the engineering articles in Wave 2 and to the color-specific decision guide W6-GRAY.

Processing Methods

Gray Masterbatch is supplied in pellet form for direct blending at the throat of an extruder or injection molding machine. Recommended processing conditions match the host polymer; the pigment's heat-stability ceiling is disclosed on the TDS.

Related Masterbatch Products

• Color Masterbatch Explained — the engineering pillar for the color family.
• White Masterbatch — for opacity and tinting; often paired with Gray Masterbatch to control shade depth.
• Black Masterbatch — for shade darkening and UV protection.

Related Knowledge Articles

• How to Choose the Right Gray Masterbatch — decision-guide article (Wave 6).
• Color Masterbatch Explained — canonical engineering pillar (CT-PILLAR-001).
• Carrier Selection for Color Masterbatch — carrier compatibility (CT-ART-002).
• Color Matching, ΔE and Pantone References — matching methodology (CT-ART-003).
• Custom Color Masterbatch Development — the process of moving from a target to a supplied grade (CT-ART-004).

What to Send on Your RFQ

For a usable Gray Masterbatch quotation, provide:

1. Host polymer (PP, PE, HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, PET, ABS, PS) and processing temperature range.
2. Shade target — a Pantone reference, a physical chip, a retained standard, or a defined ΔE tolerance.
3. Let-down ratio target and expected pigment loading in the Masterbatch.
4. End-use exposure — indoor, outdoor, food contact, high temperature, chemical.
5. Regulatory frame — food contact (FDA, EU 10/2011), toy safety (EN 71-3), medical, or none.
6. Volume and MOQ — kg per order, annual estimate, sample requirement.

So What Should the Buyer Investigate Next?

Before issuing the PO, verify: (a) the exact pigment index on the TDS matches what your part actually needs, (b) the carrier resin is compatible with your host polymer, and (c) the ΔE tolerance on the color match is contractually specified. If any of these three is missing, the risk sits on your production floor — not on the supplier's.

Request a quote: /quote — send the six items above and Allzone will return a grade-specific offer promptly, matched to your polymer, shade target, and volume.