Filler Masterbatch isn’t a raw material in the same sense as the other materials in this catalog — it’s a delivery format. It’s a carrier resin pre-loaded with a filler (Calcium Carbonate), designed to make precise dosing easier during plastics manufacturing. Its real “competitor” isn’t another material — it’s a different manufacturing approach (see Limitations).
What is it?
Filler Masterbatch is a concentrate: Calcium Carbonate dispersed into a carrier resin (typically LDPE or LLDPE), extruded and pelletized into a form that’s easy to dose and handle. Industry sources describe typical Calcium Carbonate loading of 70–80% by weight, with the carrier resin making up roughly 10–25% of the formulation (industry sources; figures vary by supplier, not a standardized specification).
Why should I use it?
- Precise, consistent dosing. Because the filler is already dispersed in pellet form at a known concentration, it’s far easier to dose accurately and repeatably than adding raw Calcium Carbonate powder directly.
- Less dust, easier handling. Pelletized masterbatch is simpler and cleaner to handle on the production floor than loose mineral powder.
How it’s used
In Plastics & Polymers, Filler Masterbatch is let down into the base resin during processing, typically replacing 10–30% of the virgin resin in the finished product (industry sources). This is the same underlying value that raw Calcium Carbonate provides in polyolefins directly — cost reduction of roughly 40–70% has been documented for direct compounding (see the Calcium Carbonate page) — but delivered in a format built for dosing convenience rather than for the lowest possible material cost.
Limitations — when it isn’t the right choice
- It isn’t automatically the cheaper option. If a manufacturer already has in-house compounding equipment and runs high production volumes, adding raw Calcium Carbonate powder directly can be less expensive — Filler Masterbatch carries a price premium in exchange for dosing convenience, not a cost advantage in every scenario. (A dedicated guide — Filler Masterbatch vs. Direct Compounding — is planned.)