This page is designed to provide answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) and offer support for common issues or queries.
Epolin® is a leader in providing cutting-edge dye solutions across various industries. These dyes are used to modify the optical properties of materials, provide color, UV protection, and more. Our innovative dyes are used in applications such as eyewear, laser protection, and more. Epolin also creates new formulations to serve the growing markets of Autonomous Vehicles, Augmented Reality, and Machine Vision. Our R&D team can create the Right Stuff for your demanding application.
Epolin® has 40 years of experience developing and producing UV, Visible and NIR dyes. Epolin® can take a project from concept to production and handle all the engineering and production for the light management solution. Epolin® is one of the few companies that can provide dyes compounded into thermoplastics.
You can reach out to our dedicated customer support team by visiting our Contact Us Page or
calling us at 973-465-9495 Contact Us.
Epolin’s headquarters and manufacturing are in Newark, NJ USA. Epolin products ship around the world and have been used in over 45 countries.
Epolin® has been in business since 1984 providing UV, Visible, and NIR Dyes for Light Management, Eye Protection, and other applications.
Product Information
Epolin® offers a diverse range of UV, Visible, and NIR absorbing dyes, Ready to Mold thermoplastic Pellets, Inks, and film solutions.
The easiest way to think about dyes and pigments is to think of pigments like sand in water. It is a physical particle that you can stir up, but it will always remain as a grain of sand. Dyes behave more like Sugar in water. The Dye will dissolve down to the molecular level and become part of the solution.
Different dyes have different solubility levels. Thinking back to sugar and water, there becomes a point where the water has absorbed so much sugar that it can’t absorb any more. At that point the sugar will pile up at the bottom. Dyes behave in a similar fashion. The dyes will dissolve into the solvent or thermoplastic to a point. After that point of saturation, they will start to behave like a pigment that no longer dissolves.
Epolin dyes will dissolve down to the molecular level, so particle sizes are not a concern like they are with Pigments
Epolin® has dyes that absorb from 200nm in the Ultraviolet range out to ~3000nm in the Infrared.
Epolin dyes are soluble in Amorphous thermoplastics. Crystalline or semi-Crystalline plastics will often cause the dyes to migrate.
Epolin® traditionally puts dyes into Solvent Coatings, Polycarbonate, or PMMA. We recommend testing the dyes in your application or particular substrate or solution.
Epolin® typically certifies our dyes for 2 years. At that point Epolin could retest and recertify a small sample from your inventory.
VLT typically refers to Visible Light Transmission. This is the measurement of the amount of light transmitting in the visible spectrum from approximately 380-780nm This is measured with a Spectrophotometer.
Optical Density refers to the attenuation of light or energy through the dyes. The higher the OD value the more the energy will be reduced. You can use Epolin’s Absorbance Calculator to convert absorbance and transmittance.
Epolight® is the brand name for Epolin’s dyes and dye formulations.
Luminate is the brand name for Epolin’s ready to mold thermoplastic pellet.
Applications
Epolin® products are used to control light across the spectrum in applications including:
– Laser Eye Protection
– Arc Flash Protection
– Welding and Cutting protection
– Machine Vision
– Automotive Lidar and Driver Monitoring systems
– Consumer Electronics
– A/R and V/R applications
– Printing, Security, and anti-counterfeiting
– Industrial scanning and detection
– Sports lenses and sunglasses
– Laser Welding of materials
– Medical Phantoms
– Medical Device filtering
Visit our Application and Product pages through the links above to learn more.
–Epolin® does not provide free samples, but we do offer product quotes down to 1 gram for ease of testing.
Absolutely! Epolin® specializes in tailoring dye formulations to suit your unique requirements. To discuss your specific needs, please reach out to our sales team to discuss your Custom Formulation requirement. Epolin can computer model a solution and show you expected results prior to any initial production. Contact Us.
When requesting a dye from Epolin®, here are the key details to include
– Please specify the solvent you intend to use, as this can impact the dye’s compatibility and solubility.
– If the solution is using a thermoplastic, please provide the resin type, and the thickness of the part at the eye or sensor center.
–Specify if you need the dye to absorb multiple wavelengths or if you have specific absorption peaks.
–If there are Optical Density or Transmission targets, please let us know
–Share any stability requirements, such as resistance to heat, light, or other environmental factors, that the dye should meet.
–Many dyes will convert absorbed energy into fluorescence. In some cases, this is a desired effect and in others it will negatively affect the application.
–Please let us know whether you have a fluorescent emission target or you cannot accept fluorescence.
–In many cases Epolin has the ability to color balance or neutralize the visible color of the final solution.
–Please let us know if there is a target color for the final product.
–Epolin® can help to provide recommendations on dye loading.
–Generally, we need to know the thickness of the part or the coating
–Any optical density or transmission targets
–The dyes are very strong and only a small amount of dye is needed to hit most optical targets.
Epolin® dyes can be affected by the environmental conditions they operate in. Some dyes will degrade over time when exposed to sunlight or high energy radiated light like UV. Exposure to strong acids or bases can also cause the dyes to degrade. Finally, excessively high temperatures can cause dye degradation. It is important to communicate information about the application so that we can select the appropriate solution.
Typically, degradation of the dye will result in the dye molecule breaking down. Often this will result in the dye absorbing in the visible portion of the spectrum which can be seen as a dark brown or black color. Measuring the dye will show that its absorbance no longer matches that on the datasheet.
–Epolin® has a wide range of analytical capabilities, and we are happy to help you ensure the dye is performing to specification in your application. Often sending Epolin a sample of the finished part with the dye will allow us to measure and compare the performance of the dye to its original analysis.
Customer Support Information
– We offer a variety of shipping options.
– Epolin can ship using your shipping account.
– Epolin can ship with our account and add the total to the invoice.
– Delivery times may vary based on your location and the products you’ve ordered.
– Please Contact our customer service group via our Contact us form or at 973-465-9495 Contact US.
Yes, Epolin ships products worldwide and can assist with getting the product to you. Please contact us for more information.
Yes, Epolin can coordinate separate shipping and billing addresses to facilitate your business.
Epolin® can accept wire transfer, check, or credit card for payment.
EU Microplastics FAQ
No. Epolin polycarbonate pellet products intended for industrial processing are not prohibited from sale under the EU microplastics restriction.
– Certain polymer pellets may fall within the dimensional definition of SPMs under REACH Annex XVII Entry 78 due to particle size and polymer composition.
– However, industrial processing applications are addressed under applicable derogations and reporting provisions within the regulation.
– No. Epolin products are intended exclusively for industrial processing into solid polymer articles and optical components.
– Yes. Epolin recommends implementation of pellet containment and housekeeping practices consistent with Operation Clean Sweep® principles to minimize environmental release.
– Most Epolin® dyed polycarbonate pellet products are supplied as non-classified industrial materials and therefore generally do not require PCN submissions under:
CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008
Customers should evaluate finished formulations and local requirements independently.
– Polycarbonate polymers are not themselves SVHC substances. SVHC obligations associated with residual Bisphenol A (BPA) depend on residual monomer concentration thresholds under applicable REACH provisions.
Upon request, Epolin may provide:
- SDS documentation
- regulatory statements
- intended use declarations
- product stewardship information
to support customer compliance evaluations.
Technical Support
Please Contact our customer service group via our Contact us form or at 973-465-9495
For technical support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our experienced technical team through the Contact Us Page. To expedite the resolution process, provide as much detail as possible about your issue.
Epolin® is always looking for new opportunities. Please reach out to us to explore and discuss further. Contact Us
Regulatory FAQ
Yes. Epolin provides available regulatory information for a specific product and intended market. Depending on the product and request, this may include Safety Data Sheets, chemical-inventory status, REACH/SVHC information, RoHS information, PFAS statements, microplastics assessments, or other product-specific declarations.
Please provide the Epolin product number, destination country, intended application, and applicable regulation when submitting a request.
No. Regulatory status is product-specific and may depend on the chemical composition, concentration, destination country, application, and how the product is incorporated into the customer’s finished article.
Epolin® evaluates regulatory questions using the information available for the specific product and stated use.
Many Epolin® products contain substances that are listed on, exempt from, or otherwise eligible for use under the United States Toxic Substances Control Act. However, TSCA status must be confirmed for each product.
The TSCA Inventory lists chemical substances rather than formulated mixtures, so an assessment generally considers each component of an Epolin® formulation. Contact us for assistance.
Epolin® can provide available information and conformance regarding substances in a product, including SVHC and restriction status.
Because Epolin® is a US manufacturer, the EU importer, Only Representative, distributor, or other responsible entity in the European supply chain may have registration and communication obligations.
Epolin® can review a specific product against the current REACH Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern, commonly called the SVHC list.
Because the Candidate List is updated periodically, contact us for more information regarding specific products.
RoHS applies primarily to electrical and electronic equipment and establishes concentration limits for certain substances in homogeneous materials. Epolin® can provide available composition-based information to help customers evaluate a product for use in a RoHS-regulated application. Final responsibility for RoHS compliance and any required conformity documentation remains with the manufacturer or supplier of the finished equipment.
No. Epolin® polycarbonate pellet products intended for industrial processing are not prohibited from sale under the EU microplastics restriction.
Certain polymer pellets may fall within the dimensional definition of SPMs under REACH Annex XVII Entry 78 due to particle size and polymer composition.
However, industrial processing applications are addressed under applicable derogations and reporting provisions within the regulation.
Epolin® recommends implementation of pellet containment and housekeeping practices consistent with Operation Clean Sweep® principles to minimize environmental release.
Epolin® can provide product information to support a customer’s assessment.
Not necessarily. An SDS identifies substances that must be disclosed under the applicable hazard-communication rules. Nonhazardous ingredients, substances below applicable disclosure thresholds, and confidential business information may not appear as individual components. An SDS should not be treated as a complete formulation disclosure or as proof of compliance with every chemical regulation.
Epolin® protects proprietary formulas and confidential chemical identities. When appropriate, more detailed information may be provided under a confidentiality agreement or directly to an authorized regulatory professional, testing laboratory, or government authority. Epolin can often answer a focused regulatory question without disclosing the complete formulation or by providing a letter of conformance to the specific regulation.
A Certificate of Analysis is available with a production lot and reports the product characteristics tested against Epolin’s applicable specification.
A Certificate of Analysis confirms specified quality results for that lot; it is not a comprehensive regulatory-compliance certificate.
Epolin® products should not be assumed to be approved for a regulated end use unless Epolin® has provided written information addressing the specific product and application.
Food-contact, medical-device, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic requirements can depend on concentration, exposure route, processing conditions, extraction or migration, duration of contact, and the finished product. Customers are responsible for appropriate end-use evaluation and testing.
No. ISO 9001 certification relates to Epolin’s quality-management system. It does not by itself establish that a product is approved under TSCA, REACH, RoHS, FDA requirements, or another product-specific regulation.
Epolin’s quality system does, however, support controlled manufacturing, documentation, traceability, and continuous improvement. Epolin publicly identifies its commitment to meeting statutory, regulatory, corporate, and customer requirements within its quality system. Our certificate can be found on the website.
Epolin® can review available information for chemical inventories and regulatory requirements in other markets. Customers should identify the destination country, product, annual volume, importer, and intended use.
Epolin® can provide information concerning the Epolin-supplied material but generally cannot certify a customer’s finished product. Finished-product compliance may be affected by other ingredients, processing, concentration, construction, exposure, labeling, and intended use. The finished-product manufacturer is normally responsible for determining applicable requirements and completing any necessary testing, registration, certification, or conformity assessment.
Epolin® can assist with providing spectral measurements from finished parts produced from Epolin product.
Submit a request through Epolin’s Contact Us page and include:
- Epolin® product name or number
- Destination country or region
- Applicable regulation or restricted-substance list
- Intended application
- Approximate concentration in the finished material
- Whether the request concerns the supplied product or finished article
- Customer deadline
Providing these details will allow Epolin to prepare a more accurate and useful response.
Regulatory information provided by Epolin® is based on information reasonably available as of the date of the response and applies only to the identified Epolin® product. Regulatory requirements may vary by jurisdiction, application, concentration, supply chain, and finished-product construction. Customers remain responsible for determining the suitability and legal compliance of their formulations, processes, and finished products. Epolin’s regulatory information does not constitute legal advice or a certification of the customer’s finished product.