Black masterbatch sample and lead time
A free 1–5 kg sample compounded on your own carrier resin, despatched in 5–7 days, with the batch data sheet attached. Trial lots run 10–15 days. Here is what each stage actually involves, and the five things we need from you so the sample answers the question you are asking.
By Zoe Lin, Export Manager, E-LUCK (Guangdong Yijuyuan Plastic Industry Technology Co., Ltd.)
What a free black masterbatch sample actually is
Most suppliers send a sample of what they already have in stock. That is useful for a first look and useless for the question you actually have, which is how our carbon black behaves inside your formulation. We compound the sample on your carrier resin, to your loading target, so the dispersion and the colour you see in the bag is the dispersion and the colour you will get on your line.
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Sample quantity | 1–5 kg, free |
| Compounded on | your carrier resin, or ours if you prefer |
| Shipped with | Batch TDS + QC figures (carbon content, ash, MFR, moisture) |
| Sample despatch | 5–7 days from spec confirmation |
| Trial lot | 500 kg per specification, 10–15 days |
| Payment terms | 30% deposit, balance against bill of lading copy |
| Trade terms | FOB Huizhou / Shenzhen; CIF quoted on request |
| Confidentiality | Your formulation is not published or named |
Lead time: why it is a range and not a promise
Lead time is decided by two things: whether we already have the formulation set, and how much testing the lot needs before it ships. Both are knowable in advance, which is why we quote a range rather than a single number.
| Stage | Typical time | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Sample compounding | 2–3 days | Whether we run the grade or formulate to your spec |
| Sample despatch | 1–2 days domestic air | — |
| Trial lot production | 5–7 days | Batch size, testing scope |
| Trial lot QC and paperwork | 2–3 days | Migration or food-contact testing if requested |
| Ready to ship | 10–15 days total from spec confirmation | — |
| Repeat order, same spec | 7–10 days | Formulation already released to production |
Two practical notes. First, specification confirmation is the gate — once we have your polymer, loading target and application in writing, the clock is predictable. Second, if a project has a fixed start date, tell us the date rather than asking for the shortest lead time; we will tell you honestly whether we can hit it, and what it costs to try.
How to ask for a sample so you get one that answers your question
Five things decide whether a sample is useful or not. We ask for all five because each one changes how we compound it.
- The polymer — PE, PP, ABS, PC, PA or a blend.
- The process — blow film, injection, pipe extrusion, compounding.
- The target carbon black in the finished part — the colour you need to hit, not the loading of the masterbatch.
- Your carrier resin and its MFR — so we compound on something your line already runs.
- Any standard you work to — PE80/PE100, ISO 4427, EN 71, FDA or EU food contact.
With those, we reply with a specific grade, a let-down figure and a despatch date, normally within one working day. Without them, any sample we send is a guess.
What we will tell you about the sample, including the awkward parts
- The dispersion you should expect, and whether it needs extra shear for your geometry.
- The let-down we would run, and what happens if you go above or below it.
- Whether your target colour is reachable with standard pigment black, or whether you need a specialty grade at a different cost.
- If the sample will not work. We would rather tell you on the phone than take the order and find out in your warehouse.
Questions buyers ask about samples and lead time
Can I get a free sample of black masterbatch?
Yes. We compound a free 1-5 kg sample on your own carrier resin rather than shipping a pre-made pellet, so what you test is the interaction between our pigment and the polymer you actually run. Tell us the polymer, the process and the target carbon black in the finished part, and we send it with the batch data sheet.
How fast can you deliver a sample?
Samples are typically despatched within 5-7 days of confirming the specification, because we compound to order rather than holding stock of every grade. Domestic China delivery takes 1-2 days after that; air freight to Europe, North America and Southeast Asia is 3-6 days door to door.
What is your lead time for a trial lot?
Trial lots typically run 10-15 days from specification confirmation to ready-to-ship. Once a grade is approved, repeat orders on the same specification move faster because the formulation is already set; stock grades ship sooner than made-to-order specials.
Is there a minimum order?
500 kg per specification for a trial lot. We are set up to support small trial quantities rather than full containers only. If you give us a monthly volume as well as a first-order quantity we can show the price step between trial and contract volumes.
Can you compound on our carrier resin?
Yes, and we prefer to. A sample compounded on our own carrier tells you about our pigment; a sample compounded on your carrier tells you how our carbon black behaves in your formulation. Send us your carrier grade and MFR target and we will match it.
What data do you send with the sample?
A technical data sheet for the specific batch, the carbon black content, ash, MFR and moisture figures from our own QC, and the recommended let-down for your application. Migration test reports and food-contact statements are available on request for the AM series.
Is my formulation kept confidential?
Yes. Your carrier resin, loading target and application stay with us. We do not publish customer formulations or name customers in technical writing, including in industry contributions.
What if the sample does not perform on our line?
That is what the sample is for, and it costs you nothing to find out. Send back the conditions that failed - barrel temperature, screw speed, die, let-down - and we will tell you honestly whether it is a dispersion problem, a carrier mismatch or a pigment grade question. If it is our grade, we re-run it.
Related
- Black masterbatch price — what it costs and what moves it
- The 12 grades compared — carbon content, carrier and loading
- Let-down ratio calculator — work out dosage from your target carbon
- Certifications — ISO 9001 / 14001 / 45001 and IATF 16949, with numbers and dates
Company facts. E-LUCK (Guangdong Yijuyuan Plastic Industry Technology Co., Ltd.), founded 2016-01-27, Unified Social Credit Code 91441322MA4ULT1D8T, annual capacity 60,000 t/yr. Verifiable on gsxt.gov.cn. Full company facts.